THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


Here  goes  to  the  success  of  the  Sheriff."     Page  30. 


NICK  PUTZEL; 

OR 

ARTHUR  GURNETS  RUIN. 


A  NARRATIVE  SHOWING  THE  INS  AND  OUTS,  THE  TRICKS 
AND  DEVICES,  THE  FRAUDS  AND  FALSEHOODS,  PRAC- 
TICED   BY   ADEPTS  IN    THE  ART  OF  POLITICAL 
WIRE   PULLING,   AND    ESPECIALLY   EXPOS- 
ING THE  RESISTLESS    POWER  OF  THE 

BAR-ROOM  AND  BEER-SALOON, 


THAT  GREAT  INVISIBLE  POWER  BEHIND  THE  POLITICAL 

THRONE,  BY  WHICH  CANDIDATES  ARE  ELECTED  OR 

DEFEATED;  WHICH  YOUNG  MEN  OF  GENIUS, 

ENTERING  THE    "DIRTY   POOL,"   MUST 

FACE,  AND  BY  WHICH  MANY  OF  THE 

ABLEST,  AS  WELL  AS  WEAKEST, 

ARE  IRRETRIEVABLY  RUINED 

IN  PURSE,  POWER  AND 

CHARACTER. 

BY  GEORGE  KOEHLER. 


WITH  STRIKING  ILLUSTRATIONS  BY  "  BOZ." 


PUBLISHED    BY 


HUBBARD  BROS.,  PHILADELPHIA  ;  SPRINGFIELD,  MASS.;  CHICAGO, 

ILL.;  CINCINNATI,  O.;  ATLANTA,  GA.    N.  D.  THOMPSON  &  Co., 

ST.  Louis,  Mo.    T.  PROTHERO,  KANSAS  CITY,  Mo. 

A.  L.  BANCROFT  &  Co.,  SAN  FRANCISCO,  CAL. 


Copyrighted,  according  to  Act  of  Congress. 


C  t 


WM.  F.  FEU  &  Co., 

Ekctrotypers  and  Printers, 

1220-1224  Sansom  St., 

Philadelphia. 


PUBLISHERS'  PREFACE. 


We  boast  of  the  freedom  of  the  ballot,  but 
the  ballot  is  sadly  in  bondage.  "Invisible  Em- 
pires" exist  all  over  our  land.  Various  sove- 
reigns rule  them;  various  motives  move  them; 
and  their  thrones  are  set  up  in  widely  differing 
places. 

Over  all  these  empires,  however,  one  supreme 
empire  extends  its  sway.  There  is  in  politics  a 
king  of  kings,  a  supreme  arbiter  who  setteth  up 
and  casteth  down,  according  to  the  good  pleas- 
ure of  his  own  sweet  will.  This  sovereign  has 
hosts  of  willing  subjects,  and  still  larger  hosts 
who  though  not  so  willing  are  nevertheless  even 
more  obsequious  and  dutiful.  This  sovereign 
has  hosts  of  opposers  also,  but  many  of  them 
are  weak-kneed,  others  are  unsuspecting,  and 
some  are  traitorous,  while  the  well-organized, 
well-officered  and  vigilant  opponents  are  com- 
paratively few. 

v 

743485 


VI  PREFACE. 

Who  is  this  monarch?  He  is  the  embodied 
Liquor  Interest  of  the  United  States.  Where 
is  his  throne?  It  is  in  every  still-house,  in  every 
brewery,  in  every  bar-room,  and  in  every  beer- 
saloon  of  the  land.  Who  are  his  subjects? 
They  are  the  hosts  whose  revenue  is  derived 
from  the  sale  of  liquors;  plus  the  hosts  whose 
appetites  demand  the  use  of  liquors;  plus  the 
many  who  on  various  pretexts  indulge  in  drink 
as  occasion  offers;  plus  the  many  who  gain  some 
advantage,  pecuniary,  political,  or  otherwise,  by 
truckling  to  a  power  so  potent. 

"All  these  things  will  I  give  thee,  if  thou  wilt 
fall  down  and  worship  me,"  said  Satan  to  our 
Lord;  and  so  says  King  Alcohol  to  aspiring 
men  to-day,  especially  if  their  aspirations  be  for 
the  doubtful  honors  and  the  questionable  emolu- 
ments of  the  average  political  position. 

An  exposure  of  the  "Invisible  Empire"  of  the 
Bar-room  has  been  attempted  in  the  following 
pages.  The  liquor-power  in  politics  is  the  chief 
point  of  attack.  But  politics  supposes  politi- 
cians, and  politicians  are  men.  They  are  fathers, 


PREFACE.  Vll 

sons,  brothers,  husbands;  they  are  in  many  cases 
men  of  genius,  men  of  promise,  men  of  wealth, 
men  beloved  by  mothers,  wives,  daughters,  sis- 
ters. Whatever  touches  politics,  therefore, 
touches  men,  women  and  children;  touches  one's 
person,  possessions  and  fireside. 

Is  the  Liquor  Interest,  then,  a  ruler,  ruling  us 
all?  Do  we  even  unconsciously  yield  him 
unanimous  allegiance?  Read  these  pages  and 
see.  Fathers  and  mothers,  sisters  and  brothers, 
friends  and  kindred  of  political  candidates  may 
here  find  useful  hints.  Aspirants  for  civic  hon- 
ors may  in  this  narrative  see  some  unsuspected 
political  pitfalls.  Public  sentiment  may  here  be 
aroused  to  demand  much  needed  reformation. 
In  any  case  the  reader  will  here  find  an  entertain- 
ing story,  which  may  without  hesitation  be  read 
to  his  family  or  among  his  friends. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

BY  "BOZ." 


SUCCESS  TO  THE  SHERIFF,  .  FRONTISPIECE 

PAGE 

THE  GENERAL, 66 

THE  ANXIOUS  MOTHER,  .         .         .       1 78 

THE  SAD  BRIDAL, 251 

DYING  A  SOBER  MAN,     .         .         .         .275 
NICK  PUTZEL'S  END,        ....       304 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  YOUNG  CANDIDATE,         .         .  .      .         15, 

CHAPTER  II. 

SALOON  STATESMANSHIP,  .         .         .         22 

CHAPTER  III. 

HOPELESS  NOMINEES,       .         .         .         .         32 

CHAPTER  IV. 
POT- HOUSE  POLITICIANS,  39 

CHAPTER  V. 
ANXIETY  AT  HOME,         .         .         .         .         54 

CHAPTER  VI. 

A  COUNCIL  OF  STATE,      .         .         .         .         61 

CHAPTER  VII. 
POLITICAL  HYPOCRISY,     .         .         .         .         81 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  CAMPAIGN  BARBECUE,       .         .  103 

xi 


Xll  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  IX.  PAGE 

STRONG  DRINK  AS  A  MEDICINE,        .         .       133 

CHAPTER  X. 
SAVING  THE  YOUNG  MEN,        .         .         .       151 

CHAPTER  XI. 

WORKING  ON  ELECTION  DAY,  .         .       162 

CHAPTER  XII. 

SUCCESS,         .         .         .         .         .         .173 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

SUBMISSION,    .         .         .         s         .         .187 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
SETTLING  THE  BILLS,       .         .         .  1 94 

CHAPTER  XV. 

How  SON-SAVING  WORKS,       .         .         .204 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

GAMBLING  OFFICE  HOLDERS,    .         .         .       219 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
MATCH-MAKING,     .....       232 


CONTENTS.  Xlll 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
A  NEW  HOPE,         .....       243 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

FROM  BAD  TO  WORSE,     .         .         .         .254 

CHAPTER  XX. 

SINKING  DOWN,       .         .         .         .         .269 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
DEAD, 282 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
"THE  MILLS  OF  THE  GODS,"    .         .         .291 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 
SAD  MEMORIES,       .....       306 


NICK   PUTZEL; 

OR, 

ARTHUR  GURNET'S  RUIN. 


CHAPTER  I. 

"I  think  you  took  a  step  in  the  wrong  direc- 
tion, dear  husband,  when  you  encouraged  Arthur 
to  bring  his  name  before  the  convention  for 
Prosecuting  Attorney." 

"Why  so?  What  makes  you  think  so?"  re- 
plied Mr.  Gurney,  in  astonishment.  "He  never 
will  have  a  better  opportunity  in  his  life  than  the 
one  just  offered.  But  what  makes  you  have 
.such  thoughts?" 

"I  do  not  know,"  replied  Mrs.  Gurney;  "but 
it  has  disturbed  my  slumber  ever  since  you  and 
he  were  first  talking  about  it.  He  is  so.young  ; 
just  finished  his  study  of  law,  with  no  practi- 
cal experience;  and  I  know  how  it  is  with  can- 
didates ;  they  have  to  go  all  over  the  county, 
and  are  thrown  in  all  classes  of  society,  good 
15 


16  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

and  bad,  even  the  worst,  from  all  the  saloons 
and  other  places  of  vice,  and  it  takes  a  strong 
mind  to  withstand  all  these  temptations." 

"Don't  give  yourself  any  unnecessary  trouble, 
dear,  about  Arthur.  He  is  now  past  twenty-two, 
and  at  that  age  a  man's  character  is  pretty  well 
formed.  He  is  an  excellent  scholar,  quick  in 
perception,  and  I  have  it  from  Judge  Campbell, 
under  whom  he  studied  law,  that  he  stands  fore- 
most as  a  speaker  among  all  his  students." 

"I  am  not  questioning  his  ability.  But  dis- 
appointment has  been  the  ruin  of  so  many,  that 
I  fear  more  from  that  source  than  from  success." 

"But  we'll  have  no  disappointments.  If  he 
gets  the  nomination,  we  are  sure  of  success ;  and 
I  have  laid  my  plans  so  that  there  will  be  no  dis- 
appointment in  his  getting  the  nomination.' 

"But  what  makes  you  so  sure  of  success  ?  Mr. 
Walker,  the  candidate  for  the  opposition,  has 
the  reputation  of  an  honest,  moral,  Christian 
gentleman  ;  a  very  successful  lawyer,  and  is  re- 
spected, by  all  who  know  him.  To  make  the 
race  with  such  an  opponent  is  not  a  very  easy 
undertaking,  I  should  judge." 

"Yes,  it  would  seem  so  to  any  one  not  ac- 
quainted with  political  affairs ;  but  although  not 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  17 

a  politician  myself,  yet  I  have  watched  political 
wire-working  for  years,  and  I  am  confident  that 
Arthur,  if  nominated,  could  not  have  had  a  weak- 
er opponent  than  Mr.  Walker." 

"Will  you  please  tell  me  the  reason  why?" 

"You  just  stated  it,"  replied  Mr.  Gurney. 
"As  you  said,  he  is  an  honest,  moral,  Christian 
gentleman,  and  has  one  virtue  more,  he  is  a 
temperance  man,  and  belongs  to  the  temper- 
ance society ;  and,  as  I  cannot  recollect  that  a 
candidate  belonging  to  the  temperance  society 
has  ever  succeeded  in  being  elected  to  an  office 
in  this  county,  therefore  I  am  of  the  opinion  that 
Arthur  will  have  an  easy  race." 

"Dear  husband,  you  surely  don't  wish  our  son 
to  go  to  drinking  for  the  sake  of  getting  an 
office?" 

"Oh  no,  not  at  all ;  but  to  meet  with  success 
a  candidate  must  act  the  hypocrite  a  little.  He 
must  go  into  the  saloons,  treat  his  friends,  and 
make  acquaintances  ;  for,  without  the  aid  of  sa- 
loons and  barkeepers,  he  would  have  few  chances 
for  an  office." 

"  Then  I  wish  he  never  would,  for  nothing  is 
more  disgusting  to  me  than  a  saloon,"  said  Mrs. 
Gurney. 


18  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

"Your  imagination  makes  you  unjust.  I  have 
been  in  saloons  almost  every  day  since  I  became 
of  age,  ate  my  lunch,  and  drank  when  and  what  I 
wished,  and  I  do  not  think  any  one  can  say  he 
ever  saw  me  intoxicated.  If  a  man  wants  to  make 
a  brute  of  himself  it  is  his  own  fault.  I  am  not 
afraid  of  Arthur  doing  it." 

"  Well,  God  grant  that  he  may  not,"  said  Mrs. 
Gurney,  with  a  sigh,  and  seated  herself  on  the 
sofa. 

"  You  must  excuse  me,"  said  Mr.  Gurney,  "  I 
have  some  orders  to  give  to  the  servant,  and 
will  be  back  in  a  moment." 

Mr.  Gurney  was  a  man  about  fifty  years  of 
age,  tall  and  well  built,  his  blonde  hair  and 
whiskers  slightly  sprinkled  with  gray,  for  he 
carried  his  age  remarkably  well.  He  com- 
menced life  as  a  clerk  in  a  hardware  store,  and 
after  a  few  years  of  faithful  service  was  admitted 
junior  partner.  A  few  years  later  the  senior 
partner  died,  and  Mr.  Gurney  became  manager 
of  the  firm,  and  shortly  after  the  sole  owner.  By 
close  attention  to  his  business  he  acquired  con- 
siderable wealth,  and  honest,  upright  dealings 
made  him  numerous  friends.  A  short  time  ago 
he  retired  from  business,  wishing, as  he  expressed 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  19 

himself,  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  days  in 
ease.  His  wife  was  nearly  ten  years  younger 
than  he,  still  handsome,  but  in  delicate  health. 
She  was  highly  esteemed  by  her  acquaintances, 
for  her  many  virtues  and  true  Christian  -life. 
They  had  but  two  children,  the  eldest  a  daughter, 
and  the  other  our  hero,  Arthur. 

"  I  see  Arthur  coming,"  said  Mr.  Gurney,  as 
he  returned  to  the  room.  "  He  must  have  good 
news  to  tell  us,  to  .judge  from  his  walk  and 
countenance." 

At  this  moment  a  tall,  handsome  young  man, 
the  very  picture  of  Mr.  Gurney,  only  twenty- 
five  years  younger,  without  ceremony,  entered 
the  room. 

"Well,  how  about  the  convention?"  asked 
Mr.  Gurney,  as  he  looked  smilingly  at  the  young 
man. 

"Oh,  I  was  nominated  on  the  first  ballot," 
replied  Arthur,  with  many  exhibitions  of  personal 
satisfaction. 

"  And  do  you  feel  yourself  competent  to  con- 
duct the  campaign  successfully?" 

"  I  have  no  fear  at  all,  father,  although  I  have 
in  Mr.  Walker  a  formidable  opponent,"  said  the 
young  man. 


20  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

"  He  won't  be  anywhere  if  you  manage  things 
rightly.  But  we  will  talk  of  this  hereafter,  as  I 
have  some  business  to  attend  to,"  and  saying 
this,  Mr.  Gurney  left  the  room. 

Mrs.  Gurney  was  at  this  time  sitting  silently 
on  the  sofa,  her  head  resting  on  her  hand,  and 
her  countenance  wearing  a  troubled  expression. 
Arthur,  noticing  it,  said,  mildly — 

"  Mother,  are  you  sick  ?  You  have  no  word 
of  congratulation  for  me." 

"  Dear  son,  I  wish  I  could  rejoice  over  your 
nomination  ;  but  ever  since  you  and  your  father 
had  it  under  consideration  my  peace  has  left  me, 
and  something  has  taken  possession  of  me  that 
I  cannot  account  for.  I  fear  for  your  safety." 

"Well,  mother,  now,  indeed,  don't  you  think 
me  old  enough  to  take  care  of  myself,  and  have 
I  not  done  so  for  the  last  three  or  four  years  ? 
Is  there  one  human  being  that  can  say  a  word 
against  the  character  of  Arthur  Gurney?" 

"  Dear  son,  your  character  was  always  such 
as  brought  joy  to  the  hearts  of  your  parents, 
but  now  you  enter  into  a  new  field.  In  canvass- 
ing the  county  you  will  be  thrown  into  all  kinds 
of  company,  perhaps  into  saloons,  and  you  know 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  21 

many  noble  hearts,  many  strong  minds,  many  use- 
ful lives,  have  been  wrecked  on  those  breakers." 

"  If  this  is  all  that  troubles  you,  mother,  then 
rest  easy,  for  your  son  will  never  suffer  from 
this  source." 

"  Arthur,  dear  son,  cried  the  mother,  bursting 
into  tears,  promise  mve  that  you  will  beware  of 
strong  drink,  and  perhaps  my  mind  will  be 
reconciled." 

"  Mother,  you  have  my  promise." 


22  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 


CHAPTER  II. 

"Who  is  dat  Arthur  Gurney,  nominated  for 
Prosecuting-  Attorney?  I  never  heard  of  him 
pefore,"  exclaimed  Nick  Putzel,  proprietor  of  the 
Court-house  Saloon,  as  he  .arose  from  his  chair, 
throwing  the  morning  paper  on  the  table. 

Nick  Putzel,  well  known  as  "  Uncle  Nick," 
was  a  very  extraordinary  character.  He  came, 
when  quite  young,  from  Germany,  in  which 
country  he  was  employed  from  childhood  until 
his  departure  to  America,  as  a  cow-boy.  His 
first  employment  here  was  that  of  a  hostler,  but 
he  swore  he  did  not  come  to  America  to  work 
himself  to  death,  and  that  he  never  knew  any 
one  to  get  rich  at  such  work.  So  he  changed 
his  employment,  and  was  for  some  time  engaged 
as  a  bootblack,  roust-about  and  assistant  in  a 
saloon.  His  experience  soon  discovered  that  to 
be  successful  in  life  one  must  give  his  attention 
to  politics.  He  rapidly  gained  notoriety  by 
making  votes  for  candidates  with  full  purses. 
In  this  work,  an  uncommonly  large  portion  of 
cheek,  and  impudence  superior  to  that  of  a 
Camanche  chief,  came  greatly  to  his  assistance. 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  23 

To  reward  him  for  the  valuable  service  rendered 
to  his  employer  by  the  increase  of  cash  in  the 
money  drawer,  he  was  soon  installed  as  bar- 
keeper in  chief,  in  which  capacity  he  had  a  larger 
field  of  operation.  The  services  of  Nick  Putzel 
were  soon  found  to  be  indispensable  to  those 
wishing  to  succeed  in  their  political  career,  and 
he  was  courted,  flattered,  and  honored  by  every 
one  who  ever  expected  to  become  a  candidate 
for  office.  He  was  not  one  of  those,  however, 
who  would  gratuitously  render  his  services  for 
the  benefit  of  others ;  but  he  was  true  to  the 
old  adage,  that  "  every  service  is  worth  its 
reward."  That  he  demanded,  and  that  he  re- 
ceived. He  soon  became  a  member  of  the 
fire  department,  but  the  constant  use  of  malt 
juice  made  him  short-winded,  slow  of  locomo- 
tion, and  nearly  unfit  for  that  service.  Not 
wishing  to  take  his  wages  without  giving  value 
received  for  it,  he  tendered  his  resignation.  It 
was  accepted,  but  not  wishing  to  lose  the  service 
of  such  a  valuable  person,  he  was  offered  a 
situation  on  the  police  force,  and  was  soon  found 
attired  in  a  blue  coat,  and  doing  duty  as  a  mem- 
ber of  that  honorable  body.  He  was,  for  some 
time,  alternately  policeman,  market  master  and 


24  NICK    PUTZEL  ;    OR 

city  marshal,  and  was  tendered  the  nomination 
for  the  legislature,  which  he,  however,  declined, 
saying  that  "  he  would  not  bother  his  brain  by 
learning,  in  his  old  days,  to  write,  read,  and  talk 
them  high,  good-for-nothing  words  of  the  Eng- 
lish language."  He  was  not  a  spendthrift. 
Although  he  drank  nearly  a  small  keg  of  beer 
every  day,  yet  he  managed  so  that  it  did  not 
make  any  serious  impression  on  his  pocket-book. 
He  had  a  little  official  business  in  nearly  every 
saloon,  looking  after  rogues,  gamblers,  and 
counterfeiters,  and  met  everywhere  with  men 
of  every  class,  and  soon  he  had  such  a  reputa- 
tion that  all  were  anxious  to  gain  his  favor,  and 
times  out  of  number  he  was  invited  to  take  a 
social  drink.  He  got  tired  of  official  life,  how- 
ever. "  I  have  served  my  country  long  enough," 
he  would  exclaim,  and  having  accumulated  quite 
a  sum  of  money,  he  started  the  well-known 
Court-house  Saloon. 

When  Nick  Putzel  came  to  America,  which 
was  about  twenty  years  ago,  his  whole  weight 
was,  perhaps,  about  one  hundred  and  forty 
pounds.  He  was  of  medium  height,  with  fea- 
tures anything  but  attractive.  His  skin  was  of 
a  delicate  hue,  which  might  be  accounted  for  by 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  25 

the  fact  that  cow-boys  spend  the  greater  portion 
of  their  time  under  shade  trees.  Nearly  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century  has  made  great  changes.  The 
delicate  color  has  disappeared,  and  a  dark  brown 
has  taken  its  place ;  the  nose,  not  very  small 
then,  has  doubled  in  size,  and  the  cheeks,  orna- 
mented with  pimples  and  warts,  have  grown  in 
proportion.  The  head,  that  formerly  rested  on 
a  very  short  neck,  seems  now  to  have  sunken 
between  the  shoulders ;  and  the  body  has  ex- 
panded to  such  an  enormous  size  that  it  is  with 
the  utmost  difficulty  that  his  short  legs  propel 
it.  •  This  is  a  short  sketch  of  the  life  of  Nick 
Putzel. 

The  busiest  time  in  Uncle  Nick's  establish- 
ment was  at  night.  Back  from  the  bar-room 
was  a  billiard  saloon ;  also  a  secret  chamber, 
for  the  retreat  of  gamblers,  a  knightly  order,  to 
which  only  those  initiated  found  admittance. 
Here  late  hours  were  kept  every  night  of  the 
week,  and  many  sums  of  money  changed  owner- 
ship. Uncle  Nick  would  look  to  the  wants  of 
all ;  he  would  be  alternately  at  the  bar,  in  the 
billiard-room,  and  in  the  sanctum  of  the  frater- 
nity. Every  order  was  executed  with  dispatch 
by  the  attaches  of  the  establishment.  At 


26  NICK    PUTZEL  ;    OR 

twelve  o'clock,  after  counting  his  cash,  and  giv- 
ing his  orders  to  his  chief  barkeeper,  he  usually 
retired.  His  wife  had  orders  to  awaken  him  at 
nine  in  the  morning,  at  which  time  he  would 
arise,  and  half  an  hour  later  he  could  be  found 
in  his  place  of  business.  Then,  the  first  thing, 
he  would  look  over  the  morning  papers.  It 
was  at  this  time  of  the  day  he  was  heard  to  make 
the  above  expression.  There  were,  perhaps, 
half  a  dozen  persons  in  the  room,  but  the  words 
were  not  directed  to  any  one  in  particular.  One 
who  had  just  refreshed  the  inner  man  with  some 
of  Uncle  Nick's  best,  answered — 

"Arthur  Gurney  is  a  son  of  old  David  Gur- 
ney,  the  retired  hardware  merchant.  They  say 
he  is  a  splendid  scholar,  and  an  excellent  young 
man." 

"  He  never  vas  in  mine  saloon,  dat  I  know  of," 
said  Uncle  Nick.  "  Is  he  a  demperance  ?  " 

Nothing  on  earth  was  more  disgusting  to 
Uncle  Nick  than  the  word  temperance,  and  any 
one  belonging  to  the  temperance  society  was"  a 
fool,  not  to  be  trusted  with  any  business.  "  Dem 
demperance,"  he  would  say,  "ruined  der  pusiness, 
and  should  not  be  dolerated." 

"  I   do   not  know  anything  about  him  being 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  27 

temperance,"  replied  the  first  speaker.  "I  know 
his  father  is  not,  for  I  have  often  met  him  in 
saloons  at  lunch  times,  and  seen  him  drink  his 
glass  of  beer." 

"  Yes,  der  olt  man  has  peen  in  my  saloon,  put 
he  don't  spend  much.  He  eats  a  leetle  lunch, 
unt  drinks  von  or  dwo  glass  of  peer,  den  he  is 
off  again.  Such  beeple  don't  amount  to  much, 
and  if  dat  young  man  is  de  same,  he  will  not 
git  de  wotes  of  der  poys,  you  pet." 

Uncle  Nick  picked  up  the  paper  again,  and 
glancing  over  it,  said,  "'For  Sheriff,  Michael 
O'Brien.'  Is  dat  dat  Irishman  dat  keeps  dat 
saloon  up  down,  dat  feller  dat  fights  de  brizes?" 

"  The  same,"  answered  several  at  once. 

"  Oh,  dat  is  der  right  man — a  pusiness  man, 
unt  a  man  dat  can  knocks  'em  down  if  dey  don't 
pehave.  Dat's  der  man  I  likes  to  see  'em  put 
up  fur  canderdate.  Und  who  is  de  Henry 
Welch  dey  nominated  fur  Treasurer?  "  he  con- 
tinued. 

"That  is  the  fellow  that  drives  those  fast 
horses,"  said  one  of  the  company. 

"Yes,  and  he  keeps  fast  company,  too,"  re- 
joined another. 

"  Dat's    der   man,"  said  Uncle  Nick.     "  Not 


28  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

keeps  de  money  in  der  preeches  bocket,  but  lets 
it  circulate,  unt  lets  it  come  amongst  der  beeple." 

"  By  Jove !  "  exclaimed  one  of  them ;  "  here 
they  come  now — every  one  of  them;  Arthur 
Gurney,  Mike  O'Brien,  and  Henry  Welch,  and 
a  good  many  with  them.  Now  comes  your 
harvest,  Uncle  Nick." 

"  Oh,  if  dem  mans  want  to  git  der  office,  dey 
must  shell  out.  De  poys  vill  not  wote  fur  dem 
demperance  beeple;  und  dey  can  make  it  again 
ven  dey  gets  der  office.  Is  dat  young  man 
Gurney  ?  "  said  Uncle  Nick,  pointing  to  one  of 
the  company,  and  without  waiting  for  an  answer, 
he  continued,  "He's  a  vine  looking  veller; 
looks  as  if  de  sun  never  shone  on  him."  Uncle 
Nick,  at  this  moment,  must  have  recollected  the 
shade  trees  of  his  boyhood  days. 

The  door  opened  at  this  moment,  and  a  large 
company  of  men  entered  the  saloon.  Consider- 
able time  was  spent  with  the  formality  of  intro- 
duction, when,  at  last,  one  of  the  new  comers, 
with  the  remark, "  enough  of  this,"  called  to  Uncle 
Nick  to  hand  out  some  of  his  best.  He  was  of 
a  dark  complexion,  marked  with  several  large 
scars,  stoutly  built,  and  showed  more  the  traces 
of  the  lower  order  of  beings  than  those  of  a  re- 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  29 

fined,  cultivated,  educated  gentleman.  This  was 
Mr.  Michael  O'Brien,  the  candidate  for  the  office 
of  Sheriff. 

"  Give  me  a  glass  of  lemonade,"  said  Arthur 
Gurney  to  the  barkeeper,  who  politely  asked 
his  order. 

"  Lemonade  !  In  de  morning !  Pefore  lunch  ! 
Dat  won't  do,  mein  young  friend.  Lemonade 
tos  bery  veil  in  der  afternoon,  at  von  or  dwo 
o'clock,  ven  der  sun  is  hot,  put  it  vill  never  do 
in  der  morning  pefore  lunch.  You  must  trink 
de  gute  French  brandy,  to  seddle  de  stomach 
for  de  lunch." 

"You  must  excuse  me,  Mr.  Putzel,"  said  Arthur. 
"I've  got  a  headache  already,  and  brandy  would 
only  make  it  worse." 

"Uncle  Nick,  mein  friend!  If  you  calls  me 
Mr.  Putzel  der  poys  wouldn't  know  who  you 
vas  dalking  apout.  Put  Uncle  Nick  is  known 
all  over  der  coundy." 

"Don't  let  him  play  off  on  us,  Uncle  Nick. 
He  played  off  on  us  last  night,  when  we  sere- 
naded him,  but  then  his  mother  was  watching 
him  too  closely,"  said  one  of  the  company. 

Arthur's  cheeks  crimsoned  slightly,  as  his 
companion  mentioned  his  mother. 


30  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

"Yes,  der  American  vimens  is  all  demper- 
ance,"  Uncle  Nick  interrupted.  "Dey  drinks  der 
tea,  unt  der  lemonade,  unt  der  soda  water,  unt 
den  dey  have  de  dyspepsia,  unt  die  mit  de  con- 
sumption. Dat  is  not  der  vay  in  der  old  coun- 
dry." 

Arthur  Gurney's  blood  rushed  to  his  face  upon 
hearing  this  rough,  vulgar  remark,  but  he  recol- 
lected being  a  candidate,  and  that  Uncle  Nick 
was  a  power  in  the  land.  Forgetting  the  prom- 
ise he  gave  his  mother,  he  took  the  bottle  and 
poured  a  little  into  his  glass.  It  was  only  for  this 
time,  so  as  not  to  offend  the  company.  "  Here 
goes  to  the  success  of  the  Sheriff,"  and  the  con- 
tents were  emptied.  It  was  the  first  that  ever 
polluted  Arthur  Gurney's  lips. 

"Dell  der  cook  to  vix  an  extra  vine  lunch  for 
to-day,  unt  blenty  of  it ;  de  candidates  are  here." 

It  kept  the  barkeeper  busy  for  some  time  to 
execute  the  orders  for  drinks  that  followed  in 
succession,  and  not  until  the  lunch  was  served 
did  he  get  any  rest  at  all. 

"  Cum  up,  men,  unt  helb  yourselves  to  de 
lunch,  unt  see  if  der  cook  has  done  his  duty." 

Oyster  soup,  roast  beef,  roast  veal,  the  finest 
weiner  wurst,  all  kinds  of  sauce  and  salad,  the 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  31 

famous  herring  salad  included,  served  in  supe- 
rior style,  was  in  waiting  to  be  partaken  of  by 
the  company. 

"Dis  herring  salad  is  bery  vine,  Mr.  Gurney," 
said  Uncle  Nick.  "  Shust  taste  it,  it  gives  a  gute 
abbetite  for  der  peer  after  lunch." 

Arthur  went  through  the  motion,  but  he  ate 
very  little.  His  head  felt  dizzy,  and  he  wished 
he  could  be  with  his  mother,  whom  he  had  so 
grossly  wronged.  Lunch  over,  the  beer  was 
ordered,  but  he  could  drink  no  more.  He  was 
sick,  indeed — sick  in  mind  and  body;  and  he 
never  felt  more  relieved  than  he  did  when  a  boy 
came  with  a  message  for  him  from  an  old  friend, 
who  had  just  arrived  at  his  home. 

He  excused  himself,  and  left,  taking  with  him 
a  dizzy  head  and  disturbed  mind. 

"A  first-rate  feller,  dis  young  Gurney ;  a  leetle 
dimid,  put  he  vill  pe  all  right  pefore  de  election 
comes  off." 

"You  bet,"  exclaimed  half  a  dozen  voices. 
"He  means  success,  and  will  leave  no  stone  un- 
turned to  achieve  it." 

By  this  time  the  company  broke  up,  and  all 
went  their  way  rejoicing,  Uncle  Nick  remark- 
ing "dat  dis  vas  de  pest  dicketdey  eberput  up." 


32  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 


CHAPTER  III. 

"  Let  me  congratulate  you  on  your  nomina- 
tion," said  an  elderly  gentleman,  entering  the 
office  of  Mr.  Walker,  and  extending  his  hand, 
which  was  grasped  by  the  person  addressed, 
who,  while  holding  it,  smilingly  replied — 

"Thank  you,  thank  you,  friend  Gilbert,  even 
if  the  chances  are  not  very  promising  for 
success." 

"You  are  only  joking,  Mr.  Walker,  for  I  hear 
everywhere  that  the  party  could  not  have  made 
a  better  nomination,  and  all  seem  sure  of  suc- 
cess," said  Mr.  Gilbert. 

"  Well,  then,  I'll  tell  you  they'll  find  themselves 
sadly  mistaken.  The  whole  ticket  will  be  de- 
feated, and  that  very  badly,  too,"  said  Mr. 
Walker. 

"  Are  you,  indeed,  talking  in  earnest  ?  If  you 
are,  will  you  grant  me  the  privilege  of  asking 
the  reason  why  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  certainly.  Why,  they  forgot  to 
put  sporting  and  drinking  men  on  the  ticket, 
and  though  all  of  them,  except  myself,  will  drink 
their  glass  of  beer  occasionally,  yet  they  are  not 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  33 

looked  upon  as  belonging  to  the  fraternity,  and 
will  be  considered  by  them  as  temperance  men  ; 
and  did  you  ever  hear  of  a  temperance  man 
getting  elected  to  office  in  this  community  ?  " 

"  But  the  temperance  cause  has  made  such 
progress  that  I  think  the  days  are  past  when 
elections  are  conducted  and  ruled  by  whisky 
and  its  agents,"  said  Mr.  Gilbert.  "  And  they 
tell  me  the  opposition  have  nominated  some  of 
the  worst  characters  in  the  community,"  he 
continued. 

"  The  temperance  cause  has  made  very  little 
progress  in  that  direction,  and  some  of  their 
candidates  don't  enjoy  a  very  high  reputation  as 
to  their  character  for  honor,  morals,  and  virtue. 
Yet  young  Gurney  has  the  reputation  of  an  ex- 
emplary young  man,  of  fine  talents,  and  well 
educated.  I  can't  help  but  feel  for  him,"  replied 
Mr.  Walker. 

"That's  all  well  enough,  but  they  say  he  is 
very  young,  just  finished  his  studies,  with  no 
practical  experience  whatever.  How  can  he 
combat  with  such  an  opponent  as  you  ?  You 
are  known  all  over  the  county,  and  I  do  not 
flatter  you  when  I  say  that  you  are  highly  spoken 
of  by  every  one ;  even  the  opposition  admit  that 


34  NICK    PUTZEL  ;    OR 

you  are  by  far  the  best  qualified  for  the  posi- 
tion." 

"No  flattery,  no  flattery,  Mr.  Gilbert.  I  admit 
I  have  some  practical  experience  in  law,  and 
perhaps  very  few  personal  enemies,  but  this  is 
not  the  guaranty  of  success.  On  the  contrary, 
it  is  a  drawback.  To  be  successful,  you  must 
belong  to  rings,  you  must  go  from  saloon  to 
saloon,  shake  hands  with  every  gambler,  loafer 
and  bummer,  address  them  as  your  friends,  and 
call  them  up  to  partake  of  a  social  glass.  You 
must  tell  the  saloon  keepers  that  temperance 
laws  are  a  gross  violation  of  the  liberties  of  the 
people ;  that  you  will  do  all  in  your  power  to 
work  against  such  laws  ;  that  temperance  socie- 
ties are  ruinous  to  the  community,  and  that  the 
laws  compelling  them  to  close  their  establish- 
ments on  election  days — which,  of  course,  they 
never  comply  with — are  a  trespass  on  the  rights 
of  a  free  American  citizen,  who  carries  on  a 
legitimate  business.  You  know  very  well,"  con- 
tinued Mr.  Walker,  "that  I  will  not  do  this,  and 
David  Gurney,  the  father  of  the  young  nominee 
— a  very  fine  old  gentleman,  who  drinks  his  glass, 
never  gets  drunk,  is  strict  and  honorable  in  all 
his  dealings — has  his  head  set  that  his  son  shall 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  35 

be  successful,  and  money  will  not  be  wanting 
to  carry  it  out.  The  young  man  is  his  only  son ; 
he  has  high  expectations,  and  wants  his  son  to 
occupy  high  positions  in  life ;  and  this,  he  thinks, 
is  the  first  step  toward  it,  and  he  will  make  it  a 
success.  May  he  never  live  to  regret  it.  Many 
have  started  in  just  such  directions,  and  have 
succeeded  to  ruin." 

"Well,  I  confess  I  do  not  know  much  about 
saloons  and  their  doings.  I  know  our  country 
drug  stores  are  bad  enough ;  still  I  do  not  think 
they  meddle  themselves  with  politics  ;  and  if  they 
did,  we  could  soon  put  a  stop  to  it.  And  I  should 
think  if  the  sober,  industrious  citizens  of  your 
city  would  unite  they  could  soon  bring  the  sa- 
loon keepers  to  reason." 

"Exactly  so,"  said  Mr.  Walker;  "but  they 
never  do  unite.  Every  party  wishes  to  be  suc- 
cessful, and  to  this  end  uses  means  not  alto- 
gether in  accordance  with  the  law.  The  majority 
will  generally  vote  a  strictly  party  ticket,  and 
the  floating  vote  is  carried  by  the  party  that 
spends  the  most  money  for  whisky.  Unscrupu- 
lous demagogues  know  this,  and  spend  large 
sums  of  money,  sometimes  more  than  their  sala- 
ries amount  to,  to  secure  these  votes.  If  not 


36  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

sufficient,  voters  are  imported  from  other  places, 
and  their  object  is  accomplished." 

"But  have  you  no  laws  to  prevent  that,  and 
can  they  not  be  put  in  force  ?" 

"Yes,  we  have  laws,  but  they  are  so  loose 
that  they  can  be  easily  violated  without  bringing 
the  guilty  party  to  justice.  The  laws  of  some 
States  require  that  a  person  shall  reside  in  them 
a  year,  others  only  six  months,  before  he  is  en- 
titled to  a  vote.  A  foreigner  must  have  filed 
his  intention  of  becoming  a  citizen  of  the  Uni- 
ted States.  Yet  on  election  day  many  of  these 
foreigners,  fresh  from  the  old  country,  the  soil 
of  Europe  still  attached  to  their  feet,  without 
the  least  knowledge  of  our  political  affairs,  and 
with  very  little  knowledge  of  our  language, 
customs,  wants,  and  needs,  are  hurried  to  the 
polls  and  vote." 

"You  surely  have  challengers  at  your  polls, 
and  if  they  are  challenged,  they  have  to  swear 
that  they  are  citizens,  and  long  enough  in  the 
State,  and  this,  too,  has  to  be  certified  by  a  free- 
holder." 

"Exactly.  That  is  the  law;  but  you  see, 
before  they  are  driven  to  the  polls  they  are  tho- 
roughly saturated  with  whisky,  and  half  of  the 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  37 

poor  fellows  are  not  aware  of  doing  wrong ;  and 
freeholders  are  always  on  hand  to  accomplish 
the  desired  object." 

"I  cannot  see  how  they  can  make  anything 
by  it,  if  they  spend,  as  you  say,  more  than  their 
salaries  amount  to  for  success  in  getting  elected. 
They  surely  don't  do  it  for  the  honor  of  being 
public  servants." 

"Oh,  there  are  some.  For  instance,  young 
Gurney ;  his  father  will  spend  perhaps  double 
and  treble  the  amount  of  his  salary,  and  yet,  if 
elected,  he  will  make  a  good,  faithful,  honest  and 
trustworthy  officer.  It's  the  honor  he  wants, 
and  with  the  honor  promotion.  He  is  one  out 
of  a  hundred,  however,  for  the  most  of  them 
want  the  office  to  "make  money  out  of  it,  and 
they  get  it  back  with  interest.  Rings  are  formed, 
schemes  are  plotted,  fraudulent  contracts  are 
made,  and  sometimes  not  altogether  a  correct 
book  is  kept.  In  short,  another  burden  is,  in 
some  way,  added  to  the  tax-payer,  to  reimburse 
them  for  their  outlay." 

"This  is  a  sad  picture  of  affairs,  if  your  imagi- 
nation has  not  led  you  to  judge  too  severely," 
said  Mr.  Gilbert. 

"I  do  not  talk  from  imagination,  Mr.  Gilbert. 


38  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

I  talk  facts  derived  from  years  of  experience 
and  personal  observation.  And  you  have  not 
heard  half,  nay,  the  tenth  part,  that  the  monster, 
king  Alcohol,  and  his  agents  have  done  to  de- 
moralize our  civil  service  and  to  ruin  our  free 
and  republican  institutions." 

"I  have  heard  enough,  however,  to  satisfy  me 
that  we  must  do  our  utmost  to  get  rid  of  them. 
But  I  have  detained  you  already  longer  than  I 
expected,  and  have  a  little  business  myself  to 
attend  to,  so  I'll  bid  you  good  day." 

"Good  day,  Mr.  Gilbert.  Don't  forget  to  call 
again." 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  39 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  unusual  activity  of  the  bartenders  in 
Dublin  Exchange,,  and  the  throng  of  customers 
who  were  busily  engaged  in  filling  and  emptying 
their  glasses  of  corn  juice,  lager  and  ale,  and 
amusing  themselves  by  playing  cards,  dominoes, 
dice  and  billiards ;  the  smoke  that  filled  the  room 
by  the  consumption  of  dog-leg  tobacco  in  clay 
pipes  and  the  puffs  from  a  few  "  Kentucky " 
Havanas,  scented  by  the  breath  of  decaying 
corn  juice;  the  costumes,  which  represented 
nearly  every  nationality,  and  the  chatting  in 
almost  every  language  spoken  in  American  cities, 
would  have  furnished  an  artist  sufficient  material 
to  give  the  world  one  of  the  most  interesting 
pictures  of  Modern  Art. 

Whatever  might  have  been  said  of  hard  times, 
the  depression  in  business,  scarcity  of  money 
and  low  starving  wages  for  workingmen,  no 
signs  of  it  were  visible  here;  and  the  words  "No 
Trust"  conspicuously  posted  behind  the  bar 
must  have  appeared  to  any  observer  unneces- 
sary, if  a  correct  judgment  could  be  formed  from 


40  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

the  ready  cash  that  exchanged  hands  at  every 
call  for  the  bottle. 

Mike  O'Brien,  the  proprietor,  and  now  candi- 
date for  Sheriff,  acted  as  overseer,  and  was 
evidently  the  most  attractive  of  all.  He  tried, 
as  much  as  possible,  to  lay  aside  his  "  Bull-dog  " 
appearance,  and  had  a  friendly  word  for  every 
one  present.  At  the  entreaties  of  some  friends 
he  went  through  some  pugilistic  exercises,  and 
exhibited  his  liberality  by  frequent  calls  for  the 
bottle.  "  You  must  not  leave  yet,  gentlemen," 
he  said,  as  a  party  of  half  a  dozen  or  more  were 
in  the  act  of  departing ;  "  we'll  have  some  dis- 
tinguished personage  with  us  after  a  while,  and 
will  no  doubt  have  a  jolly  time,  and  not  a  dry 
one  either ;  but  for  better  acquaintance  I  pro- 
pose that  we  take  another  round,  and  in  de- 
ference to  my  other  customers,  we  will  all  have 
a  social  drink  together ;"  and  turning  to  one  of 
the  waiters  he  gave  orders  to  attend  to  the  wants 
of  every  one  present. 

"  Oh,  if  the  party  only  had  sinse  enough  to 
nominate  all  such  men  as  our  friend  Mike  for 
office,  we'd  soon  drive  those  other  fellows  to  the 
wall,  and  a  better  time  for  the  poor  workingman 
would  not  be  far  distant.  But  there  never  is  a 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  41 

convention  but  what  some  flops  manage  to  get 
nominated,  which  was  done  in  the  last  one,  when 
they  nominated  that  little  flop,  Arthur  Gurney, 
for  Prosecuting  Attorney.  I  met  the  young 
upstart  on  the  street  the  other  day ;  he  passed 
me,  dressed  in  the  finest  of  broadcloth,  never 
took  any  notice  of  me,  and  his  countenance 
spoke,  plainer  than  words,  'The  devil  a  bit  do 
I  care  for  a  poor  workingman.' " 

These  words,  spoken  in  the  broadest  of  Hiber- 
nian English,  were  answered  by  several,  "That's 
a  fact,"  "  that's  a  fact." 

The  speaker,  a  robust  Irishman,  laid  down  his 
pipe  and  cards,  and  arose  to  take  his  social  drink 
with  Mikjs.  If  we  could  judge  from  his  gar- 
ments as  to  his  daily  earnings  for  support  we 
would  come  to  the  conclusion  that  he,  for  one,  had 
a  right  to  bring  charges  against  his  employers,  for 
oppression  and  for  appropriating  to  themselves 
what  rightfully  should  have  been  his ;  his  shoes, 
if  such  they  could  be  called,  had  the  appearance 
of  many  years'  service ;  his  toes  protruded  and 
the  heels  figured  as  a  side  show ;  his  trousers, 
buckled  around  his  waist  with  a  leather  strap, 
would  scarcely  have  been  of  any  value  to  the 
rag  pickers  ;  his  shirt,  ornamented  with  tobacco 


42  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

juice,  looked  as  if  soap  and  water  were  at  a  pre- 
mium ;  his  hat,  through  which  several  bunches 
of  stubborn  hair  appeared,  would  have  been  of 
no  service  even  as  a  hen's  nest ;  the  upturned 
nose  was  of  copper  color,  and  the  eyes  swollen 
and  heavy.  But  ere  he  could  speak  further, 
Mike  O'Brien  interrupted :  "you  are  mistaken, 
my  friend^  and  judge  our  friend  Arthur  Gurney 
wrongfully ;  'tis  true  he  is  a  little  proud  in  his 
dress,  but  that  will  all  wear  off  when  he  gets 
older ;  but  otherwise  he  is  a  jolly,  good-hearted 
fellow,  and  not  a  particle  stingy,  and  you  cannot 
help  but  like  him  when  you  get  acquainted 
with  him." 

"That's  all  well  enough,"  interrupted  one  of 
the  speakers,  "that's  all  well  enough;  but  I  would 
rather  have  seen  some  one  else  nominated  in 
his  place,  Pete  O'Flaherty,  for  instance,  or  Fred. 
Kuntz,  the  Dutchman ;  they  are  as  liberal-hearted 
as  anybody  could  be  found,  shake  hands  and 
treat  whenever  they  meet  you,  and  always  have 
a  friendly  word.  Then  they  are  old  country  men, 
and  I'd  rather  they  would  always  have  the  office 
than  the  Americans." 

"Dat's  so,"  put  in  old  Fritz,  the  hostler  en- 
gaged in  the  livery  stable  near  O'Brien's  saloon, 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  43 

setting  down  his  empty  glass  and  wiping  his 
mouth  with  his  shirt  sleeve;  "dey  knows  more 
dan  all  the  Americans.  A  lawyer  in  Shermany 
has  to  study  six,  seven  years,  pefore  he  can  get 
in  the  courts ;  unt  he  must  know  all  the  lan- 
guages,de  Latin,  untde  French,  untde  English,  unt 
de  Greek,  unt  I  pelieve  de  Russian  too  ;  unt  dey 
all  wear  sphecks  pefore  dey  get  to  be  dwendy 
years  old ;  all  cums  vrom  studying  so  much;  unt 
I  'spects  it's  the  same  in  Ireland  too." 

"You're  talking  sense  now,"  was  responded 
by  several  as  the  speaker  finished  the  last  sen- 
tence. 

"I'll  tell  you,"  said  another  one,  "the  foreigners 
should  stick  together  and  vote  for  nobody  but 
old  country  men  or  such  Americans  as  are  with 
us  and  will  see  that  the  workingmen  get  their 
rights  ;  and  above  all,  that  the  white  man  shall 
rule  ;  and  that  those  negroes  shall  be  shown  their 
places  and  not  mingle  with  white  persons  and  be 
allowed  to  put  the  wages  down  so  that  a  white  man 
can  scarcely  make  a  living  and  have  a  cent  left 
to  get  him  a  dram  and  a  pipe  of  tobacco.  And 
this  is  just  what  I  don't  like  these  Gurneys  for  ; 
there  they  have  a  big  buck  'nigger'  strutting 
around,  dressed  up  like  a  judge  and  as  digni- 


44  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

fied  as  a  priest.  Oh,  I  tell  you,  if  they  can't  em- 
ploy white  men  to  do  their  work  white  men  ought 
not  to  vote  for  them ;  that's  just  exactly  the  way 
I  stand,  and  I  think  I'm  right." 

"  And  that's  just  exactly  the  way  I  stand,  too," 
interrupted  another  of  the  party.  "  Before  these 
cussed  negroes  overflowed  the  country  (they  are 
now  as  thick  as  fleas  around  a  hog  pen)  a  white 
man  could  always  get  plenty  of  work  and  make 
a  living,  and  have  a  penny  left  for  his  morning 
'bitters,'  and  a  pipe  of  tobacco,  just  what  the 
workingman  needs  to  keep  off  the  chills  and 
keep  up  his  constitution.  A  white  man  can 
scarcely  earn  enough  to  keep  body  and  soul 
together.  I  tell  you,  it's  no  use  talking,  these 
negroes  have  ruined  the  country." 

"  Yes,  and  these  temperance  are  just  as  bad," 
went  on  another  one,  as  the  former  ceased 
speaking.  "And  there's  another  objection  I 
have  to  these  Gurneys.  The  old  lady  is  one  of 
these  big  temperance  women,  that  looks  on 
every  saloon  as  a  hell,  and  every  saloon  keeper 
as  an  accomplice  of  the  Devil,  and  gets  horrified 
on  hearing  of  a  laboring  man  taking  a  dram  to 
keep  off  the  chills,  of  which  this  country  is  full." 

"Wall,  I  do  not  know  anything  about  the  way 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  45 

they  live  up  here,"  interrupted  a  tall,  raw-boned 
individual,  as  he  extricated  a  great  wad  of  tobacco 
from  his  mouth.  "  I  was  borned  and  raised  in 
Car'lina,  and  niggers  thar  know  very  well  how 
to  keep  thar  places ;  and  if  they  did'nt  we'd  soon 
larn  them  how,  as  we  have  done  when  they  got 
sassy,  after  the  war,  when  they  thought  them- 
selves as  good  as  white  folks,  as  the  Abolitionists 
taught  them ;  we  just  use  a  few  yards  of  rope, 
and  a  few  pounds  of  lead  and  powder,  and  once 
in  a  while  a  hickory ;  I  tell  you,  it  has  a  mighty 
good  effect.  They  aint  as  sassy  any  more  as 
they  have  been,  an^they  know  darned  well  that 
the  white  man  wont  stand  it.  I'll  tell  you  wat's  a 
fact,  the  nigger  is  bound  to  sarve  a  master ;  God 
has  willed  it  so.  We  had  an  old  Baptist  preacher 
down  thar,  who  was  a  well  larned  man ;  he 
knowed  the  whole  Scripture  by  heart,  and  he 
said  he  could  prove  it  with  the  Bible,  that  God 
made  the  nigger  a  slave  before  he  was  borned. 
He  said  thar  was  a  feller  got  into  a  fight  with 
his  brother  and  killed  him.  I  don't  know  that 
I  know  exactly  his  name,  but  I  believe  it  was 
Cain,  or  something  like  that,  and  for  fear  of 
getting  into  the  calaboos,  or  of  swinging  on  a 
tree  with  a  rope  around  his  neck,  he  run  off  into 


46  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

another  country,  and  thar  was  no  women  thar, 
and  he  got  acquainted  with  a  baboon  and  mar- 
ried her,  and  God  cursed  him  for  this  unnatural 
alliance,  and  told  him  right  down  that  their  off- 
spring should  be  slaves  to  the  white  man  for  all 
time  to  come.  So,  you  see,  when  the  Abolitionists 
freed  them  they  acted  entirely  against  the  will 
of  God,  and  against  the  Bible.  They  may  go  to 
church  as  much  as  they  please,  I  cannot  call  them 
Christians.  But  you  kin  bet  thar's  a  better  time 
comin' ;  these  Abolitionists  won'thavetheirwayall 
the  time,  and  you  just  wait  until  our  party  gets 
in  power,  and  we'll  larn  them  another  song.  But 
as  to  your  wages  here,  I  tell  you,  they  are  a  good 
deal  better  than  down  south,  with  us,  where  a 
man  can  scarcely  earn  fifty  cents  a  day." 

"Mein  Got  in  Himmel,"  put  in  Fritz,  "how 
can  a  man  live  mid  dat  ?  it  would  not  more  than 
do  to  keep  me  in  mein  beer,  and  I  drinks  not 
much  neither." 

"  Oh,  the  white  people  in  Car'lina  that  have  to 
work  for  a  livin'  live  much  cheaper  than  they 
do  up  here ;  they  don't  care  to  live  in  fine  houses, 
and  have  beefsteaks,  sweet  cakes,  wheat  bread, 
and  all  those  nick-knacks,  or  to  have  tea  parties, 
or  send  the  children  to  college,  and  all  the  other 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  47 

new  fangled  things,  as  they  do  up  here  ;  and  thar 
women  don't  dress  in  fineries,  or  go  to  church 
with  ten  dollar  bonnets  on  their  heads.  No 
sir  !  they  live  in  good  old-fashioned  log  houses, 
that  have  on  each  side  a  door  large  enough  to 
drag  a  log  into  the  fire,  with  a  'hoss'  hitched 
to  it ;  they  have  no  use  for  windows ;  they  can 
open  the  door  if  they  want  to  look  out ;  the  fire- 
place is  large  enough  for  the  whole  household 
to  sit  comfortably  around  it;  you  need'nt  be  afraid 
of  being  scolded  when  you  chaw  your  tobacco 
and  spit  in  the  fire,  except  when  it  flies  too  near 
the  skillet,  as  it  does  sometimes,  when  the  women 
are  cooking.  Our  women  have  no  use  for  stoves ; 
fire-places  are  more  handy  and  convenient ;  then 
you  don't  need  to  scrape  your  shoes  and  boots 
a  half  hour  before  entering  the  room,  for  fear 
of  soiling  the  carpet ;  I've  always  looked  on  them 
as  a  nuisance,  since  I  came  up  here  ;  and  we  don't 
need  any  coal  oil  or  candles  ;  the  fire  in  the  fire- 
place lights  the  room  better  than  either ;  and  we 
don't  need  to  have  two  or  three  partitions  in  the 
house,  one  for  a  dining  room,  one  for  a  kitchen, 
one  for  a  bed  room,  one  for  a  sitting  room,  an- 
other for  a  servant ;  I  tell  you,  its  all  nonsense  ! 
We  generally  build  our  houses  twenty  by  twenty- 


48  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

five,  and  have  it  all  in  one  room ;  cook  in  it,  eat 
in  it,  wash  and  sleep  in  it.  I  tell  you,  it's  a 
good  deal  handier,  and  a  heap  warmer  in  win- 
ter. And  then  we  live  plainer;  our  women 
hold  on  to  the  old-fashioned  corn  dodger,  sweet 
'taters,'  and  bacon.  The  men  sometimes  bring 
home  a  coon,  possum,  or  turkey.  I  tell  you, 
when  fixed  by  a  fire-place,  it  is  lots  better  than 
a  stove  ;  and  then  we  aint  agoing  to  spend  every 
year  three  or  four  dollars  for  school  books,  pay 
taxes  to  hire  these  Yankee  school  marms,  and 
send  our  children  thar  to  have  thar  heads  stuffed 
full  of  a  pack  of  nonsense ;  no  sirree  !  we  give 
them  the  hoe,  and  tell  them  to  go  out  and  hoe 
'taters'  and  cotton  ;  and  we  generally  give  them 
a  patch  of  ground  to  raise  goober  peas,  I  believe 
you  call  them  peanuts  here.  I  tell  you,  they 
are  good  when  roasted  in  a  fire-place.  And 
our  women  work;  they  spin,  weave,  help  to  plant 
corn,  and  all  other  kinds  of  work  in  the  field ;  and 
if  you  Yankee  folks  do  make  fun  of  them  smok- 
ing and  chewing,  I,  for  my  part,  see  no  wrong  in 
it,  and  think  more  of  them  with  a  pipe  in  thar 
mouth  and  a  hoe  in  thar  hand,  than  of  all  your 
fine  ladies  here,  sitting  in  rocking  chairs  reading 
story  books.  Then  they  don't  run  to  stores  to 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  49 

buy  a  pair  of  three-dollar  shoes  every  month,  as 
they  do  here.  In  summer  we  all  go  barefooted, 
and  in  winter  a  pair  of  stogies  is  all  they  ask ; 
we  are  also  more  economical  with  our  fanning 
utensils.  Here  a  farmer  must  have  a  half-dozen 
plows,  he  don'tknow  himself  what  for,  just  to  be  up 
with  others ;  we  make  out  with  a  diamond  plow 
just  as  well ;  and  we  don't  lay  out  every  other 
year  twenty-five  or  thirty  dollars  for  a  set  of 
harness ;  our  women  make  straw  collars  and 
straw  pads ;  we  have  rope  halters,  rope  bridles 
and  lines,  which  are  better  and  cheaper,  and 
easier  on  our  horses.  Yes,  I  tell  you,  men,  I  have 
worked  lots  of  times  for  half  a  dollar  a  day  and 
board  myself,  and  thought  I  was  making  big 
wages." 

"  Yes,"said  another  one,"  that's  all  well  enough; 
but  if  you  had  to  pay  ten  cents  a  dram  for  whis- 
ky down  there,  as  you  do  here,  you'd  soon  find 
out  where  you  stand.  But  you  fellers  have  a 
still-house  in  every  county,  and  pay  neither  license 
nor  a  darned  cent  of  revenue,  and  can  get  your 
whisky  cheap ;  and  if  a  revenue  officer  feels 
sassy  enough  to  sniffle  around  a  little,  you  gene- 
rally send  him  home  with  his  head  bandaged,  that 
is,  if  you  send  him  home  at  all.  That  is  just 


50  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

what  I  like  about  you  Southerners ;  they  aint 
going  to  be  made  slaves  of  by  these  Yankees : 
I  glory  in  their  spunk !  I  just  wish  it  could  be 
done  here  the  same  way." 

The  Carolinian  broke  out  in  a  big  laugh  that 
nearly  shook  the  floor ;  fortified  himself  with  a 
fresh  wad  of  tobacco,  and  then  went  on  :  "  Oh, 
my  friends,  I  could  tell  you  something  about  that ; 
I  was  in  one  of  those  scrapes  myself  once,  and 
it  was  not  so  much  fun  either ;  but  I  tell  you,  we 
closed  the  nigger's  windpipe  that  acted  as  in- 
formant." 

"  Oh,  those  darned  niggers  ;  they  all  ought 
to  be  packed  in  one  vessel  together,  sent  out  to 
sea  and  drowned ;  if  they  don't  do  it,  this  country 
won't  be  worth  a  cent  in  twenty  years  from  now." 

"Oh,  it  won't  take  twenty  years ;  it's  gone  to 
the  dogs  already,"  put  in  another  one.  "When  I 
came  to  this  country  you  could  buy  a  gallon  of 
whisky  for  twenty  cents,  and  five  cents'  worth 
of  tobacco  did  you  a  whole  week ;  but  now  twenty 
cents  scarcely  buy  your  morning  bitters,  and  five 
cents'  worth  of  tobacco  won't  fill  a  Dutch  pipe." 

"Yes,"  said  Fritz,  "when  I  came  here  I  pought 
beer  for  five  cents  a  quart,  unt  now  you  get  for 
five  cents  a  leetle  glass  mit  foam,  such  as  in 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  51 

Germany  would  not  cost  half  a  cent,  unt  it  would 
took  all  my  wages  if  I  was  to  trink  all  I  wanted ; 
unt  if  they  go  unt  elect  dem  demperance  I  go 
unt  leave  the  place." 

"Well,  the  way  to  keep  them  out,"  put  in  a  tall 
New  Yorker  with  a  stovepipe  hat,  "is  for  all  of 
us  to  work  together.  Make  every  vote  we  can  ; 
try  to  bring  those  that  are  undecided  over  to 
our  party;  even  if  it  does  cost  a  few  dollars.  And 
I  think  it  no  sin  if  we  can  get  in  a  few  crooked 
votes;  especially  in  as  good  a  cause  as  ours. 
I  always  thought  it  wrong  to  keep  the  foreigners 
four  or  five  years  in  our  land  before  they  are 
allowed  to  vote.  They  are  all  well  educated, 
and  soon  get  acquainted  with  our  political  affairs, 
and  five  or  six  weeks  would  be  long  enough. 
But  I  tell  you,  we  don't  care  much  for  the  natu- 
ralization laws  in  the  city  of  New  York.  I  saw 
them  voted  there  before  their  clothes  got  dry 
from  the  sea  water,  and  we  didn't  make  much 
of  a  secret  of  it  either." 

"And  we  will  vote  some  of  them  this  year, 
remarked  Mike  O'Brien;  we  can  do  it  just  as 
well  here  as  they  do  in  New  York.  People  are 
getting  their  eyes  opened,  and  finding  out  who 
are  their  friends,  who  work  for  their  interest,  and 


52  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

will  vote  accordingly.  There  are  already  heavy 
bets  made  that  we  will  beat  them,  and  if  any  one 
doubts  this,  you  just  send  him  to  Mike  O'Brien, 
who  is  ready  to  stake  one  thousand  dollars 
against  five  hundred,  that  our  entire  ticket  will 
be  elected." 

"Three  cheers  for  Mike  O'Brien  and  the 
ticket,"  was  proposed  by  one  of  the  company, 
and  ere  that  gentleman  could  command  silence 
a  rousing  hurrah  for  Mike  O'Brien  and  the 
ticket  shook  the  house  to  its  foundations.  It 
was  some  time  before  quiet  was  restored,  but 
at  last  this  was  done,  by  the  proprietor  saying 
that  he  would  make  a  few  remarks  if  they  would 
listen  and  be  quiet. 

Here  the  door  opened  and  two  men  entered 
the  room ;  all  eyes  were  turned  toward  them ; 
both  were  plainly  but  neatly  dressed;  the  older 
about  medium  size;  but  while  the  other  was 
much  younger,  his  tall  figure,  frank  and  open 
countenance,  in  which  was  pictured  a  noble  heart, 
was  at  once  the  centre  of  attraction. 

Just  as  the  wild  beast  of  the  forest  shrinks 
and  cowers  down  before  the  gaze  of  man,  so 
did  these  debauched  wretches  stand  mute  in 
admiration,  as  if  confronted  by  a  superior  being. 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  5*. 

It  was  a  moment  of  holy  stillness  in  this  temple 
of  iniquity,  and  was  only  interrupted  when  Mike 
O'Brien  advanced  and  shook  hands  with  both, 
and  turning  to  the  crowd,  said — 

"I  told  you  before  I  expected  some  dis- 
tinguished visitors,  and  I  have  not  been  disap- 
pointed. I  now  take  pleasure  in  introducing  to 
you  my  friend  Arthur  Gurney — our  candidate 
for  Prosecuting  Attorney,  and  Henry  Welch, 
our  candidate  for  Treasurer." 

Again  three  rousing  cheers  shook  the  house, 
given  this  time  for  Arthur  Gurney  and  the 
ticket. 


54  NICK  PUTZEL;  on 


CHAPTER  V. 

"Mother,  dear,  don't  you  think  it  best  to  go 
to  bed,"  said  Mrs.  Annie  Emmit,  the  daughter  of 
the  person  addressed.  "It  is  now  past  nine 
o'clock,  and  in  your  weak  state  of  health  you 
cannot  bear  this  loss  of  rest  and  sleep." 

Mrs.  Gurney  was  sitting  in  a  large  easy  chair, 
her  head  resting  on  a  soft  pillow.  Her  pale 
face  was  shrunken,  and  her  large,  bright  eyes 
were  moist  with  tears.  Once  very  beautiful,  she 
yet  retained  a  sweetness  of  expression  which 
gave  a  tenderness  and  charm  to  every  wasted 
feature.  You  saw  at  once  that  she  was  a  woman 
of  refinement,  but  a  sufferer,  bodily  and  men- 
tally. 

"Past  nine  o'clock,"  she  repeated,  "and  not 
here  yet.  He  promised  me  so  faithfully  to  be 
here  to  tea;"  and  with  a  heavy  sigh  her  hands, 
which  were  folded  on  her  breast,  sank  upon  her 
lap. 

"Dear  mother,  don't  give  way  to  such  grief. 
Perhaps  he  met  with  some  friends,  or  has  called 
at  my  husband's  store,  and  they  will  come  to- 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  55 

gether,  for  Edward  promised  to  call  for  me  as 
soon  as  he  closed  his  establishment." 

Edward  Emmit,  Annie's  husband,  was  a  well- 
to-do  dry'  goods  merchant,  of  steady  habits,  and 
an  energetic  business  man.  They  had  been 
married  about  three  years,  and  the  fruit  of  this 
marriage  was  a  boy  about  two  years  old,  named 
after  his  uncle  Arthur,  and  at  present  sleeping 
on  the  sofa,  near  by. 

"Met  with  some  of  his  friends,"  she  sighed 
again.  "That  is  what  I  am  afraid  of,  if  you  can 
call  such  men  as  he  associates  with  of  late  friends 
at  all;"  and  shaking  her  head,  she  said,  in  a  low 
tone ;  "  Oh,  husband,  husband !  May  you  never 
see  the  day  when  you  will  regret  the  steps  taken 
for  the  promotion  of  your  son." 

"Don't  trouble  yourself  so  much,  and  so  un- 
necessarily, about  Arthur.  He'll  be  here  soon; 
and  you  are  only  injuring  your  health." 

"Perhaps  I  am  a  little  over-anxious,  but  I  can't 
help  it.  I  feel  such  an  awful  weight  here,"  said 
Mrs.  Gurney,  putting  her  hand  on  her  breast, 
"and  since  his  nomination  Arthur  has  changed 
so  much.  He  promised  me  that  he  would  not 
drink,  yet  I  know  he  has  broken  that  promise. 
Before  his  nomination  he  never  entered  the 


56  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

door  without  giving  me  some  token  of  affec- 
tion and  obedience,  and  my  slightest  wish  was 
law.  Out  of  his  bright  eyes  spoke  truth  and 
benevolence,  and  his  noble  features  'disclosed 
the  good  qualities  of  his  heart.  But,  oh,  how 
changed  is  all  this!  He  shuns  me;  the  bright 
eyes  are  too  frequently  swollen;  they  do  not 
look  me  honestly  in  the  face,  as  in  former  days, 
and  when  spoken  to  by  me,  seek  the  floor.  His 
features,  once  beaming  with  health,  are  at  times 
flushed  by  an  unnatural  color;  his  steps  are  un- 
steady, and  his.  speech  thick  and  heavy.  He 
comes  home  at  late  hours;  never  rises  until 
nine  or  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  is  fitful 
and  irregular  in  his  habits  and  appetites." 

"Has  father  noticed  all  this,  and  if  so,  what 
does  he  say  about  it?"  said  Annie. 

"  He  does  not  seem  to  pay  any  attention  to  it 
at  all.  I  threw  out  some  hints  this  evening,  be- 
fore he  started  to  lodge,  but  he  makes  light  of 
it;  says  Arthur  is  a  Gurney,  and  no  Gurney  was 
ever  known  to  be  a  drunkard,  or  seen  drunk, 
although  every  one  of  them  that  he  kne'w  drank 
their  glass  of  wine,  beer,  or  brandy,  if  they  felt 
like  it;  and  the  way  Arthur  is  situated  at  present 
may  lead,  in  all  probability,  to  his  drinking  once 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  57 

in  a  while  a  glass,  as  it  is  often  impossible  to 
refuse  without  offence.  He  always  ends  by  say- 
ing, 'you  never  mind,  Arthur  will  be  'all  right 
after  the  election.' " 

"Well,  perhaps  father  is  right;  and,  mother, 
do  not  give  way  to  grief.  Father  is  experienced 
in  these  matters,  and  would  not  lead  his  son  to 
ruin  and  destruction  if  he  saw  any  danger." 

"  God  grant  that  you  speak  the  truth.  But  so 
many  young  men  have  started  out  on  their 
youthful  voyage  full  of  life,  full  of  hope,  full  of 
promise,  and  were  wrecked  in  mid-ocean,  not 
thinking  of  danger,  being  too  self-reliant,  and 
not  heeding  the  warning  voice  of  experienced 
navigators.  May  he  be  spared  such  a  fate;  I 
only  have  to  pray,  may  God  guide  and  protect 
him." 

"And  I  think  your  prayer  will  be  answered, 
mother,  and  that  you  will  live  to  see  your  son 
one  of  the  foremost  in  the  nation,  and  honored 
and  respected  by  all.  He  will  not  always  be 
thrown  into  society  like  the  present,  and  com- 
pelled to  associate  with  such  men  as  Michael 
O'Brien  and  Henry  Welch,  The  campaign  will 
soon  be  over,  and  with  it  all  this  will  be  at  an 
end." 


58  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

"I  wish  it  was  to-morrow,"  replied  Mrs.  Gur- 
ney.  "  Oh,  when  I  remember  the  evening  of  the 
nomination!  We  were  just  about  to  retire, 
when  we  were  surprised  by  the  sound  of  music. 
They  came  to  serenade  Arthur,  and,  of  course, 
were  invited  in.  Your  father  introduced  me  to 
Mr.  O'Brien,  the  candidate  for  Sheriff,  and  to 
Mr.  Welch,  the  candidate  for  Treasurer.  The 
breath  of  the  former  nearly  stifled  me,  when  he 
grasped  my  hand  and  said,  with  a  heavy  tongue, 
'happy  to  make  your  acquaintance,  madam.' 
He  has  more  the  countenance  of  a  brute  than  a 
human ;  his  face  adorned  with  scars,  received, 
undoubtedly,  in  drunken  brawls,  does  not  show 
a  sign  of  intelligence  or  refinement.  Oh,  how 
can  a  party  nominate  such  a  man!  The  other 
has  more  the  appearance  of  a  gentleman,  but 
there  is  something  in  his  looks  that  I  do  not  like, 
either." 

"Edward  says  he  is  by  far  the  worst  of  the 
two.  He  was  in  his  father's  employ  before  Ed- 
ward took  charge  of  the  establishment,  and  was 
discharged  for  embezzlement.  Of  course,  they 
did  not  make  it  public,  not  wishing  to  ruin  his 
character,  for  the  sake  of  his  relatives,  he  being 
very  highly  connected ;  but  he  has  not  done  any 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  59 

good  since,  and  is  connected  with  most  of  the 
gambling  houses  in  the  city,  enticing  young  men 
to  gambling,  and  to  ruin.  He  keeps  fast  horses, 
and  his  female  associates  are  anything  but  re- 
spectable." 

Little  Arthur  made  himself  heard  at  this  time, 
which  interrupted  the  conversation,  as  his  mother 
went  to  attend  to  him. 

"I  wish  Edward  would  come;  it  is  getting 
late,"  and  turning,  she  said,  "Mother,  had  you 
not  better  retire  ?" 

"Yes,  I  think  I'd  better,  for  my  waiting  here 
for  Arthur  will  be  useless,  and  I  do  not  expect 
your  father  for  some  time  yet." 

At  this  moment  the  ringing  of  the  bell  denoted 
that  some  one  had  come. 

"It's  Edward,"  said  Annie. 

The  door  opened,  and  with  the  words,  "Well, 
mother,  you  up  yet?"  Edward  entered  the 
room. 

"I  am  glad  you.  have  come,"  said  Annie. 
"Little  Arthur  is  getting  very  restless,  and  an- 
noys grandma.  It  is  getting,  late,  and  mother 
has  been  sitting  up  too  long  already." 

"We  were  a  little  later  than  common,"  said 
Edward;  "but,  we  had  a  very  busy  day,  and  it 


60  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

took  some  time  to  straighten  out  the  books. 
A  business  man  cannot  always  shut  up  when 
he  wishes." 

"Can  you  not  stay  all  night  with  us,"  said 
Mrs.  Gurney. 

"  Not  this  time,  mother.  I  have  left  no  word 
at  home  to  that  effect." 

By  this  time  little  Arthur  had  his  wraps  on, 
and  was  snugly  nestled  on  the  breast  of  his 
papa,  when  both  took  their  departure,  but  not 
without  kissing  mother  good  night. 

"Good  night,  children,"  she  replied,  with  a 
trembling  voice,  as  she  closed  the  door. 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  61 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  door  had  just  closed  behind  a  company 
of  about  half  a  dozen  men  who  had  entered  the 
sanctum  of  Uncle  Nick's  establishment,  and  took 
seats  around  a  fine  marble-top  table,  when  one 
of  the  company,  a  stalwart  individual,  dark  com- 
plexioned,  and  in  every  respect  a  true  type  of 
the  Celtic  race,  said  to  the  proprietor,  who  was 
one  of  the  company — 

"Now,  Uncle  Nick,  no  fooling  this  time.  We 
want  some  of  your  best,  and  as  there  is  no  Dutch 
among  us,  except  yourself,  I  think  we  all  will 
have  something  strong,  instead  of  that  slop  they 
call  lager." 

The  speaker  was  no  other  personage  than 
Mike  O'Brien,  the  well-known  prize  fighter, 
saloon  keeper,  and  now  the  candidate  for  Sheriff. 
Perhaps  it  will  not  be  uninteresting  to  our  read- 
ers to  have  a  short  sketch  of  the  life  of  this  re- 
markable man.  As  far  as  it  came  to  our  knowl- 
edge it  is  about  as  follows — 

Mike  O'Brien  was  born  in  Ireland,  of  poor 
parentage,  and  never  had  the  advantage  of  an 


62  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

education.  He  had  to  assist  his  parents,  from 
early  boyhood ;  to  plant  and  raise  potatoes,  and 
do  any  kind  of  work  that  could  be  obtained, 
to  make  a  livelihood.  As  he  grew  up,  he  devel- 
oped great  physical  strength,  and  was  very  fond 
of  bruising  his  neighbors'  children  whenever  an 
opportunity  offered.  He  soon  became  the  terror 
of  the  whole  neighborhood,  and  everybody  was 
glad  on  hearing  the  news  that  Mike  had  received 
money  from  his  uncle  in  America  for  the  pay- 
ment of  his  passage,  and  that  he  was  about  to 
emigrate  to  that  country.  He  was  not  long  in 
preparing,  and  soon  bid  old  Ireland  adieu,  "to 
try,"  as  he  said,  "his  luck  in  the  new  world." 
He  arrived  without  accident,  was  warmly  wel- 
comed by  his  uncle,  who  was  very  proud  of  the 
young  man's  physical  strength,  and  more  so  of 
his  skill  and  convincing  knock-down  arguments. 
Used  to  hard  labor  from  early  boyhood,  he  sought 
and  obtained  work  as  a  section  hand  on  a  rail- 
road. His  co-laborers  soon  found  out  that  it 
would  not  do  to  fool  with  Mike,  and  all  both 
hated  and  feared  him.  Soon  he  became  section 
boss,  and  the  slightest  disobedience  of  his  orders 
was  punished  by  a  knock  or  kick.  He  soon  be- 
came notorious  as  a  fighter,  and  many  of  his  class 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  63 

came  from  a  distance  to  measure  his  strength, 
and  try  their  hand,  but  always  came  out  second 
best.  Mike's  fame  was  established.  He  was 
persuaded  to  enter  the  ring,  and  being  some- 
what ambitious  for  distinction,  he  consented.  A 
match  was  agreed  upon  with  a  notorious  bruiser, 
and  Mike  went  into  training  for  the  coming  fight. 
The  day  at  length  was  at  hand.  Heavy  bets 
were  made,  and  Mike,  although  it  was  his  first 
fight,  came  out  victorious.  He  now  abandoned 
the  shovel  and  the  spade,  and  with  the  money 
he  made  by  this  operation  started  a  saloon.  He 
was  the  hero  of  the  day.  From  near  and  far 
the  bruisers  came  to  see  him,  and  his  saloon  was 
considered  one  of  the  best-paying  establishments 
in  the  city.  He  never  could  be  persuaded  to 
enter  the  ring  again,  but  was  soon  noted  for  the 
active  part  he  took  in  politics.  He  was  often 
heard  to  say:  "Why  can't  I  arise  to  political  dis- 
tinction and  power?"  And  why  not?  He  had 
seen  his  fellow-countrymen,  in  several  noted 
instances,  come  from  the  prize-ring,  the  saloon, 
and  the  gambling  den,  to  seats  of  honor  and 
fortune.  So  far  all  the  omens  were  good;  and 
when  his  name  was  called  at  the  convention  as  a 
candidate  for  Sheriff,  all  opposition  was  silenced, 


64  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

and  Mike  O'Brien  was  unanimously  announced 
as  the  nominee. 

To-day  he  and  Mr.  Welch  were  on  one  of 
their  grand  rounds,  for  electioneering  purposes, 
and,  with  some  of  the  boys,  dropped  in  to  spend 
a  few  minutes  with  Uncle  Nick. 

The  abrupt  manner  in  which  he  called  for 
refreshments  was  not  calculated  to  please  that 
gentleman,  who,  rising  in  all  his  dignity,  and  cast- 
ing a  look  of  contempt  at  the  speaker,  scornfully 
replied — 

"Vat  does  an  Irishman  know  'bout  vat's  gute? 
You  give  him  whisky,  dat  bites  on  der  tongue,  unt 
cuts  de  trote,  unt  burns  de  stomach,  unt  he  calls 
it  furst-rate ;  unt  if  you  gives  him  de  vine  Cog- 
nac, such  as  I  got,  de  best  in  der  State,  dat  runs 
down  a  man's  trote  like  oil,  he  calls  it  a  hum- 
bug." 

"Well  done,  Uncle  Nick;  hit  him  again,  he 
deserves  it,"  laughingly  interrupted  Mr.  Welch, 
the  candidate  for  Treasurer.  "  But  we  have  no 
time  to  quarrel  over  whisky,  and  as  I  can  vouch 
for  your  Cognac,  we  will  all  take  of  it." 

"And  in  friendship,  too,  as  I  meant  no  insult, 
and  hope  Uncle  Nick  did  not  take  it  as  such," 
enjoined  Mike  O'Brien. 


"What  kind  of  a  fellow  have  you  here,  Uncle  Nick?" 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  67 

"Oh,  all  a  joke,"  said  Uncle  Nick,  as  he 
stepped  to  the  speaking  trumpet,  which  com- 
municated from  the  sanctum  to  the  bar-room, 
and  gave  his  orders. 

A  few  moments  later  a  waiter  with  the  ordered 
refreshments  appeared. 

"  What  kind  of  a  fellow  have  you  here,  Uncle 
Nick?  He  looks  more  like  a  Captain  of  the 
regular  army  than  a  barkeeper;  he  looks  as 
dignified  as  a  Supreme  Judge,  and  his  mustache 
is  long  enough  for  a  Chinaman's  pig-tail,"  laugh- 
ingly said  Mike  O'Brien. 

"Captain,  you  say?"  replied  Uncle  Nick. 
"You  missed  de  mark  dis  dime.  He  ish  our 
General,  unt  I  tought  ebery  poty  in  de  city 
knowed  him.  He's  pin  mit  me  fur  de  last  dwo 
years,  put  you  neber  come  here  to  see  me,  ex- 
cepting ven  de  election  is  close  at  hand." 

This  was  a  thrust  at  the  candidate  for  Sheriff, 
but  he  evaded  an  answer  by  saying:  "Well 
where  is  the  General's  glass?  He  surely  will 
not  object  to  take  a  drink  with  common  folks 
such  as  we  are." 

"I  neber  allows  mein  men  to  trink  mit  de  cus- 
tomers. It  ish  a  pat  vay,  unt  brings  no  gute. 


68  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

Dey  can  trink  by  demselves,  lint  must  know 
der  blaces,"  interrupted  Uncle  Nick. 

"Well,"  said  Mike  O'Brien,  "I  shall  not  try  to 
break  the  rules  of  your  establishment;  but  you 
must  allow  me  to  pay  him  for  a  treat,  and  he  can 
drink  it  at  his  leisure,  to  our  success."  So  say- 
ing, he  slipped  a  bill  into  the  hands  of  the  Gen- 
eral, which  was  received  with  a  military  salute 
of  thanks. 

"A  very  soldierly-like  fellow,  this  General  of 
yours,"  remarked  Mike,  as  the  former  retired. 
"You  should  try  to  get  him  on  the  police  force. 
He  would  make  a  fine  appearance." 

"I  would  hab  got  him  a  situation  on  der  per- 
lice  force  dish  shpring,  put  der  feller  ish  so  shlow 
in  learning  to  dalk  der  English;  put  I  dink  he 
vill  do  by  der  next  shpring,  unt  I  have  dalked 
mit  Councilman  Drickey  already  about  de  mad- 
der, unt  he  says  it  ish  all  right,  if  I  wish  it.  I 
bidy  de  poor  feller;  he  don't  know  how  to  vork; 
he  vas,  since  he  growed  up,  in  de  Prussian  army, 
unt  I  jhust  keeps  him  to  do  de  shores,  unt  gives 
him  a  little  someting  till  I  find  a  situation  fur 
him.  He's  not  a  fool,  you  mint.  I  posted  him 
a  leetle  in  de  political  matters  last  shpring,  unt 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  69 

I  dell  you  der  feller,  as  green  as  he  ish,  mate 
more  as  a  dozen  votes  fur  us." 

"  My  stars !  We  must  take  good  care  of  him." 
remarked  Mr.  Welch,  when  Uncle  Nick  finished 
speaking.  "We  don't  run  across  such  fellows 
every  day." 

Franz  Spreutzhanz,  or  the  General,  as  he  was 
called  by  Uncle  Nick  and  his  customers,  was,  as 
Uncle  Nick  said,  an  old  Prussian  soldier,  who 
by  merit  and  good  behavior  had  advanced  to 
the  rank  of  Corporal.  He  was  all  through  the 
Austro-Prussian  war,  and  never  grew  tired  of 
telling  of  the  heroic  deeds  he  and  his  regiment 
performed;  how  many  times  they  whipped  twice 
their  number  of  Austrians,  and  on  several 
occasions  a  whole  army  corps.  Being  used  to  a 
busy  life,  he  got  tired  of  the  inactivity  after  peace 
was  concluded,  and  was  truly  glad  when,  shortly 
afterward,  his  term  of  service  expired.  He  had 
often  heard  how  fond  the  Americans  were  of 
military  organizations;  how  every  young  man 
sought  to  have  his  name  enrolled  in  one  of  the 
home-guard  companies ;  the  money  they  spent 
for  the  finest  of  uniforms,  and  what  large  sala- 
ries they  paid  for  good  drill-masters,  and  that 
many  a  rich  father  spent  large  sums  to  procure 


70  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

a  suitable  person  to  teach  his  son  how  to  handle 
a  sword.  There  he  would  go,  for  a  man  of  his 
qualifications  could  not  fail  to  procure  a  lucra- 
tive position  and  rise  to  distinction.  There  he 
did  go,  but,  alas  ! — 

"  Never  mortal  state  can  form  perpetual  truce  with  fate; 
Swift  are  the  steps  of  woe." 

He  found  home-guards,  with  their  splendid 
uniforms,  everywhere,  but  they  wanted  no 
instruction;  and  when  he  told  them  about  the 
superiority  of  the  Prussian  tactics,  they  laughed 
at  him,  and  told  him  they  had  Hardee's,  and  that 
they  were  the  best  in  the  world.  He  was  not 
more  successful  in  getting  a  situation  as  private 
tutor,  and  found,  to  his  dismay  and  disgust,  that 
young  America,  in  cases  of  emergency,  would 
rather  use  a  six-shooter,  or  an  Arkansas  tooth- 
pick, sometimes  called  a  Bowie-knife.  He  was 
disgusted  with  America  when  he  found  all  his 
hopes  blasted,  and  would  have  gladly  returned 
to  Germany,  but  had  no  money  to  do  so.  He 
was  offered  work  in  a  lumber  yard,  and  a  coun- 
tryman of  his  wanted  to  employ  him  to  work  on 
his  farm,  chopping  wood,  ditching,  milking  cows, 
etc.,  but  he  was  horror-struck  on  hearing  this 
proposition,  and  indignantly  refused,  saying  it 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  71 

never  should  be  said  that  a  Prussian  officer  has 
stooped  so  low.  And  so,  wandering  from  saloon 
to  saloon,  sweeping-  bar-rooms,  and  doing  other 
service,  he  was  finally  taken  in  charge  by  Uncle 
Nick. 

"  Has  our  friend,  the  Parson,  been  here  yet, 
Uncle  Nick?"  said  Mr.  Welch,  after  a  short 
pause. 

"I  hab  not  seen  him  fur  several  days,"  replied 
the  addressed. 

"He  was  to  meet  us  here  at  six  o'clock,  but 
it  is  now  nearly  seven.  I  wonder  what  keeps 
him  ?" 

At  this  moment  the  bell  sounded  the  well- 
known  signal,  announcing  one  of  the  brother- 
hood. 

"Dat's  him,  I  bet,"  said  Uncle  Nick,  as  he  went 
to  attend  to  the  call,  and  a  few  minutes  later  the 
new-comer  entered  the  room. 

He  was  a  gentleman  in  the  prime  of  life,  nearly 
six  feet-in  height,  well  built,  light  hair,  large  fore- 
head, light  complexioned,  nicely  cultivated  "Burn- 
sides,"  and  a  keen,  penetrating  eye.  He  was 
dressed  in  the  height  of  fashion,  his  clothes  were 
of  the  finest  material,  ornamented  with  a  fine 
gold  pin,  gold  buttons,  heavy  gold  watch-chain, 


72  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

and  as  he  removed  his  kid  gloves,  a  heavy  ring, 
with  a  large  diamond,  attracted  attention.  On 
the  whole,  we  see  before  us  a  gentleman  of  taste, 
culture,  and  refinement.  This  was  James  Dun- 
lap,  of  the  firm  of  Dunlap  &  Co.,  life  insurance 
agents.  Who  constituted  the  company  we  never 
were  able  to  learn. 

Mr.  Dunlap  was  well  known  all  over  the 
city,  attended  church  regularly,  was  an  active 
temperance  worker,  and  moved  in  the  most 
fashionable  society.  In  meetings  he  was  known 
as  brother  Dunlap,  in  society  as  Mr.  Dunlap, 
and  by  the  brotherhood  as  Parson  Dunlap.  The 
latter  name  was  of  recent  date,  acquired  by  his 
moral  and  temperance  speeches.  Before  that 
event  he  went  by  the  name  of  "Baltimore  Jim!" 
He  was  greatly  admired  by  the  ladies  of  fashion, 
and  was  said  to  be  engaged  to  a  young  lady  of 
wealth,  refinement,  and  education.  It  was  whis- 
pered by  those  who  professed  to  know,  that  this 
was  not  the  Parson's  first  experience  in  matri- 
mony, and  that  several  ladies  would  claim  him 
as  their  husband,  if  they  could  find  his  where- 
abouts. But  this  whisper  was  kept  strictly  to 
themselves,  for  he  was  looked  upon  as  indis- 
pensable among  the  fraternity. 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  7S 

"Do  you  call  this  six  o'clock,"  said  Mr.  Welch, 
addressing  the  new  comer  before  that  gentle- 
man had  time  to  be  seated. 

''Not  exactly,"  was  the  reply.  "I  met  with 
several  gentlemen  on  my  way,  and  you  know, 
business  is  business." 

"Well,  you  missed  the  first  round,  but  we  will 
not  talk  over  empty  glasses,  so  have  them  filled 
again,  and  add  another  to  the  number." 

"Mine  in  lemonade,  if  you  please,"  ordered 
the  Parson. 

"Dis  demperance  excitement  has  mate  quite 
a  change  mit  de  Parson.  Pefore  he  joined  dem 
demperance  he  coult  take  a  whisky  shtrate,  unt 
another  von,  unt  another  von;  put  now  it  must 
pe  de  lemonade,"  remarked  Uncle  Nick,  shaking 
himself  with  laughter.  , 

"None  of  your  nonsense,  Uncle  Nick.  I'm 
invited  to  a  social  to-night,  and  I  don't  want  the 
ladies  to  faint  from  the  smell  of  corn  juice." 

"And  you  are  goin'  to  hab  it  spiked  mit  gute 
Madeira  vine?"  asked  Uncle  Nick,  and  not  wait- 
ing for  an  answer,  he  went  to  the  trumpet,  called 
for  six  Cognacs,  and  one  lemonade  spiked  with 
Madeira. 

"Well,  how  are  the  signs  among  the  temper- 


74  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

ance  people?"  Mr.  Welch  went  on.  "Will  Mr. 
Walker  do  us  much  damage,  and  will  the  rest 
of  our  ticket  suffer  on  his  account?  You  surely 
have  found  out  enough  to  know  by  this  time?" 

"I  have  satisfied  myself,"  replied  Mr.  Dunlap, 
"that  there  is  nothing  to  be  feared  from  that 
source.  I  have  talked  with  Deacon  Butterfield 
and  Judge  Grabber,  who,  you  know,  are  very 
active  politicians,  and  also  very  zealous  temper- 
ance workers,  and  good  authority  in  such  mat- 
ters. They  say  temperance  has  nothing  to  do 
with  politics ;  if  it  had,  they  would  withdraw  from 
it  in  less  than  an  hour.  The  temperance  mission 
is  peace,  love,  and  good- will  to  all;  to  redeem 
such  as  have  fallen,  by  kind  words  and  prayers, 
and  not  to  interfere  with  persons  who  are  doing 
a  legitimate  business,  such  as  saloon  keepers. 
On  the  contrary,  they  should  be  protected,  as 
they  pay  heavily  for  their  privilege,  and  contri- 
bute largely  toward  paying  the  national  debt. 
Walker,  they  say,  is  an  extremist,  and  will  not 
get  a  vote  from  members  of  temperance  socie- 
ties, outside  of  his  party." 

"Gute,  gute  !"  said  Uncle  Nick.  "Dat  ish  de 
right  kind  of  demperance  dalk.  You  must  tell 
dese  fellers  dat  trinks  so  much  not  to  do  so  unt 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  75 

not  boder  beeple  dat  does  a  legitimate  pisness. 
Dese  fellers  are  no  profit  to  de  saloon  keepers. 
Ven  dey  trink,  dey  vill  der  glasses  plum  full,  unt 
puts  der  hand  around  it  so  it  holds  more,  unt 
half  de  dime  dey  aint  got  der  money  to  bay  fur 
it.  It's  right  to  dell  dem  to  quit,  unt  to  pray  fur 
dem.  Dat's  gute  doctorin,  unt  if  de  demper- 
ance  folks  would  pe  all  dat  vay,  I  would  jhoin 
dem  meinself.  Der  ish  some  dat  vill  make  a 
prute  out  of  demselves.  Dey  would  trink  all 
tay  unt  not  bay  fur  it,  unt  dey  might  pe  dalked 
to.  Put  ven  fellers  trinks  unt  bays  fur  it,  unt 
acts  de  gentleman,  der  ish  nopody's  pisness  how 
much  he  trinks.  You  see,  der  ish  'Squire  Bliss; 
he  trinks  a  tram  early  in  de  mornin,'  to  keep  off 
de  tamp  air,  unt  den  he  trinks  von  pefore  break- 
fast, to  give  him  an  abedite ;  he  trinks  von  after 
breakfast,  to  shettle  de  stomach;  den  he  trinks 
von  to  steady  de  nerves;  unt  von  pefore  lunch, 
unt  den  he  dakes  von  after  de  lunch,  unt  he 
always  dakes  von  before  dinner;  never  misses 
to  dake  von  after  de  dinner;  dakes  dree,  four 
in  de  afternoon,  to  keep  off  de  chills;  von  pefore 
supper,  unt  von  after  supper,  unt  always  von 
pefore  he  goes  home  unt  to  bet.  He  never 
dakes  pig  glasses  full,  always  bays  fur  it,  unt 


76  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

always  tends  to  his  pisness.  Now,  who  has  a 
right  to  shay  de  'Squire  shant  trink?  I  say,  sing 
unt  bray,  lint  dalk  to  dese  fellers  dat  ish  no 
account,  put  let  other  beeple  alone." 

"And  that  will  be  about  as  effective  as  sing- 
ing psalms  in  a  graveyard  for  the  resurrection 
of  the  dead,"  rejoined  the  Parson,  laughingly. 

"You  bet,"  was  heard  from  several,  all  joining 
in  a  hearty  laugh. 

The  contents  of  the  glasses  served  by  the 
General  were  now  disposed  of,  and  after  another 
order  was  given  the  Parson  resumed — 

"But  I  have  met  with  one  stubborn  fellow, 
Mr.  Bolton,  the  blacksmith,  who  seems  to  be 
very  much  dissatisfied  with  the  way  things  are 
going  on.  He  says,  there  never  can  be  a  nomi- 
nation without  the  saloon  keepers  having  their 
say-so  about  it,  and  trying  to  boss  the  job, 
and  every  appointment  to  the  lower  offices  is 
given  to  saloon  keepers,  barkeepers,  and  whisky 
rats,  just  as  if  there  were  no  others  capable  and 
qualified  for  these  positions.  He  got  very  much 
excited  when  he  said;  'Here  are  the  descend- 
ants of  those  patriots  who  fought  in  the  revolu- 
tionary war,  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  perhaps^ 
themselves  in  our  late  rebellion;  the  German 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  77 

and  Irish,  who  assisted,  and  who  are  working 
hard,  year  in  and  year  out,  in  workshops,  on 
streets  and  railroads,  to  make  an  honest  living 
for  themselves  and  their  families;  who,  by  their 
brains,  muscles  and  industry,  add  wealth  and 
prosperity  to  our  cities  and  country;  and  yet 
they  have  to  stand  back,  and  see  the  stations 
which  of  right  belong  to  them  occupied  by  those 
who  never  were  any  benefit  to  the  country,  to 
God,  or  to  mankind.'  " 

"Dis  'ere  placksmith  is  nodings  put  a  grand 
fool.  Vot  does  der  mans  dat  works  in  der  shops 
do  mit  offices?  Dey  got  vork,and  dat  is  enough. 
Dey  never  does  anyting  fur  de  bardy;  dey  come 
out  from  de  shop  unt  votes  der  dicket,  unt  goes 
pack  to  de  shop  unt  works  again.  It's  de  saloon 
keeper  unt  de  barkeeper  dat  keeps  up  de  bardy, 
unt  makes  de  votes.  Vere  would  de  bardy  pe 
if  it  vas  not  fur  dem  ?  Unt  if  dey  makes  de 
votes  unt  keeps  de  bardy  alive,  dey  has  a  right 
to  de  offices." 

"That's  what's  the  matter,"  said  Mike  O'Brien, 
who  had  been  silent  all  this  time. 

"I  told  him,"  the  Parson  went  on,  "that  he 
ought  not  to  get  excited  over  such  trifles,  and 
that  all  would  be  remedied  after  a  while;  that 


78  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

the  campaign  is  a  very  exciting  one,  and  that  we 
all  must  work  harmoniously  together  if  we  wished 
to  meet  with  success.  He  said:  'Sometimes  I 
think  I  won't  go  to  the  polls  at  all  any  more; 
then,  again,  when  I  think  my  grandfather  always 
voted  the  ticket,  and  my  father  always  voted  the 
ticket,  and  I  always  voted  the  ticket,  then  I  say 
to  myself,  I'll  try  it  once  more,  but  this  is  the 
last  time,  if  things  don't  go  different.'  " 

"Yes,  unt  der  fool  will  vote  it  next  year  again, 
you  see." 

The  Parson  went  on  :  "Mr.  Walker,  however, 
will  run  exceedingly  well.  He  has  many  warm 
friends  in  the  city,  and  the  county  is  nearly 
unanimously  for  him;  and  if  he  was  not  a  temp- 
erance man,  I  would  say  he  would  be  elected." 

"And  you  think  that  is  against  him,"  remarked 
Mr.  Welch. 

"Fully  three  hundred  votes.  From  the  mem- 
bers of  the  temperance  society  he  will  not  get 
a  vote  outside  of  his  party,  and  we  can  unite  all 
the  loose  element  against  him  and  the  ticket,  as 
a  temperance  combination.  This,  of  course,  is 
expensive.  We  must  get  every  saloon  to  work 
for  us,  and  these  sharks  know  their  power,  and 
want  their  reward.  It  also  may  be  necessary,  to 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  79 

import  a  few  hundred  votes.  That's  expensive, 
but  it  can  easily  be  done.  A  larger  force  than 
common  may  be  necessary  to  work  on  the  streets. 
I  hinted  it  to  Alderman  Slimer  the  other  day. 
He  understood  me,  and  said  he  would  attend  to 
it.  To  sum  up  all  in  a  few  words:  If  you  have 
plenty  of  money  to  spend,  gentlemen,  you  will 
be  elected ;  if  not,  you  will  be  defeated.  And  I'll 
tell  you,  before  I  go  any  further,  I  must  have 
two  hundred  dollars  next  Saturday.  I  have 
had,  already,  considerable  outlay  of  my  own,  and 
my  purse  is  well-nigh  empty." 

"Well,  we  must  make  a  draw  on  old  David 
Gurney.  He  seems  to  care  nothing  for  ex- 
penses, just  so  his  son  will  be  successful,  and  he 
can  well  stand  it.  He  told  me  the  other  day  to 
never  mind  expenses ;  all  he  wants  is  success 
to  the  ticket,"  said  Mr.  Welch. 

At  this  moment  the  General  came  with  the 
refreshments,  and  with  a  repeated  "Success  to 
the  ticket,"  the  glasses  were  emptied. 

"Gentlemen,  you  must  excuse  me,"  said  the 
Parson,  as  he  set  down  his  glass.  "As  I  said 
before,  I'm  invited  to  a  social,  and  I  must  be  off 
this  minute." 


80  .    NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

"And  we,  too,  must  be  on  our  journey,"  re- 
marked Mike  O'Brien,  taking  his  hat. 

All  arose,  and  when  the  last  man  had  left,  and 
Uncle  Nick  had  closed  the  sanctum  behind  him, 
he  remarked,  "  Nothing  like  a  political  cam- 
paign." 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  81 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Seated  in  his  parlor,  surrounded  by  comfort 
and  luxury,  with  a  bottle  of  wine  and  a  couple 
of  glasses  on  the  table  by  his  side,  the  former 
as  yet  not  uncorked,  sat  Henry  Welch,  the  can- 
didate for  Treasurer,  in  his  easy  chair,  frequently 
casting  his  eyes  up  and  down  the  street,  as  if 
expecting  some  one  to  come.  As  minute  after 
minute  went  by  he  grew  uneasy,  would  occa- 
sionally open  the  door  so  as  to  have  a  better 
view,  and  when  disappointed,  as  his  looks  plainly 
indicated,  retire  again  and  take  up  his  old  posi- 
tion. This  was  repeated  time  and  again,  and 
when  minutes  grew  to  be  hours,  he  got  quite  rest- 
less and  said  to  himself:  "Well,  it's  no  use  wait- 
ing any  longer,  the  hour  is  past  when  he  pro- 
mised to  be  here,  and  I  may  just  as  well  uncork 
this  bottle  and  take  a  glass  by  myself,  for  no 
doubt  he  has  forgotten  his  promise,  or  what  is 
more  likely,  was  prevented  by  something  beyond 
his  control." 

These  words  were  scarcely  spoken  when  a 
phseton  drove  up,  and  the  occupant,  a  tall,  hand- 


82  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

some  young  man,  alighted,  fastened  his  horse  to 
the  hitching  post  and  turned  to  enter  the  house. 

The  disappointed  look  of  Henry  Welch  dis- 
appeared and  one  of  pleasure  assumed  its  place. 
He  sat  down  his  bottle  of  uncorked  wine  and 
ran  out  to  meet  his  visitor. 

"Oh,"  said  he,  as  he  extended  his  hand,  which 
was  shaken  by  the  former,  "Is  this  the  way  you 
keep  your  engagements?  Have  your  friend 
here  waiting  for  you  until  his  patience  is  ex- 
hausted, and  the  wine  which  I  brought  up  from 
the  cellar  loses  its  flavor  by  the  heat  of  the 
day?  But,  walk  in,  and  make  yourself  comfort- 
able ;  you  no  doubt  feel  tired  and  heated;  it  is 
considerable  of  a  drive  from  your  house  to  mine, 
and  I  think  a  glass  of  good  sherry,  a  bottle  of 
which  I  was  just  in  the  act  of  uncorking  when 
you  drove  up,  will  be  all  that  is  necessary  to 
bring  you  all  right." 

The  addressed,  who  was  no  other  personage 
than  Arthur  Gurney,  the  candidate  for  Prose- 
cuting Attorney,  seated  himself  in  the  offered 
chair,  and  while  his  host  laid  aside  his  hat  and 
whip,  said — 

"I  feel  sorry  for  having  disappointed  you  and 
kept  you  waiting,  but  some  legal  business  that 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  83 

I  was  compelled  to  attend  to  kept  me  beyond 
the  promised  hour.  But  I  hurried  as  soon  as  I 
could  get  off,  and  hope  my  disappointing  you 
has  not  caused  you  to  disappoint  others." 

"Oh,  not  at  all,"  said  Mr.  Welch,  "only  made 
me  a  little  uneasy;  but  let  me  uncork  this  bottle 
and  have  some  refreshments,  before  we  proceed 
to  business." 

"Thank  you,  Mr.  Welch,  I  do  not  want  to 
partake  of  any  stimulants  to-day,  but  would 
like  to  have  a  glass  of  water." 

"Oh,  I  see,"  said  Mr.  Welch,  laughing,  "you 
formed  a  bad  opinion  of  wine,  from  that  you 
drank  at  O'Brien's,  but  I  assure  you  this  is  a 
different  article.  It's  pure,  nearly  five  years  old, 
and  acts  like  an  ointment  on  the  stomach.  So 
just  give  it  a  trial  and  convince  yourself  of  what 
I  have  said;  and  you  can  partake  of  your  good 
ice  water  afterward,  of  which  I  have  a  plentiful 
supply  in  the  cooler."  So  saying,  he  filled  the 
glasses  from  the  bottle  he  had  uncorked,  and 
turning,  drew  the  water  from  the  cooler  near 
by,  and  placed  the  same  before  his  friend. 

But  the  words  spoken  in  regard  to  his  wine 
had  no  effect  on  his  visitor,  who  drank  the 


84  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

offered  water,  but  staunchly  refused  to  partake 
of  the  stimulant. 

"No,  my  friend,"  he  said,  earnestly,  after  the 
former  had  exhausted  his  persuasive  powers  in 
vain,  "I  cannot,  I  dare  not  partake  of  your  offered 
hospitality,  even  if  I  should  offend  you  by  re- 
fusing. It  does  not  agree  with  me,  and  even  if 
this  were  not  the  case,  I  dare  not,  I  cannot,  for 
my  mother's  sake." 

The  young  man's  lips  trembled  when  he 
uttered  the  last  words,  but  before  the  other  had 
time  to  reply,  he  recovered  himself  and  calmly 
went  on :  "  My  mother  has  taught  me  from  child- 
hood to  beware  of  strong  drink,  and  when  nomi- 
nated for  Prosecuting  Attorney  she  exacted  from 
me  the  promise  to  abstain  from  intoxicating 
liquors.  I  gave  it  readily,  and  never  doubted 
for  one  moment  but  what  I  would  keep  it.  The 
persuasive  powers  of  my  friends,  who  assured 
me  that  a  political  campaign  could  not  be  carried 
on  successfully  without  the  aid  of  saloons  and 
barkeepers,  and  the  partaking  of  a  social  glass, 
got  the  better  of  my  judgment,  and  I  for  once 
disregarded  the  promise  given  to  my  mother 
and  fell  in  the  snare.  I  did  not  drink  because  I 
liked  it,  but,  as  I  said  before,  to  please  my  friends, 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  85 

and  make  myself  popular.  The  watchful  eyes 
of  a  mother  soon  detected  this,  and  I  have  no 
doubt  caused  her  many  a  painful  hour,  many  a 
restless  night,  and  it  would,  in  her  already  feeble 
health,  soon  bring  her  to  an  untimely  grave.  I 
pray  to  my  God  to  save  my  mother,  and  have 
resolved,  and  hope  successfully,  to  shun  saloons 
and  never  drink  again." 

The  countenance  of  Mr.  Welch,  who  listened 
attentively  to  every  word  his  visitor  said,  grew 
very  pale,  and  when  the  latter  had  finished  he 
heaved  a  sigh  and  said — 

"Mr.  Gurney,  if  you  carry  out  this  resolution, 
we  can  consider  this  campaign  at  an  end,  and 
look  upon  ourselves  as  defeated  men ;  for  I  re- 
peat with  positive  certainty,  that  without  the  aid 
of  saloons  and  their  occupants  we  never  can 
succeed.  You  should  have  considered  this,  or 
rather  your  father,  as  he  was  the  principal  actor, 
before  your  name  was  brought  before  the  Con- 
vention. But,  as  we  have  made  considerable 
progress,  and  you,  who  have  been  looked  upon 
by  many  of  these  men  as  a  temperance  man,  an 
aristocrat,  and  a  negro  worshiper,  and  whose 
chances  at  first  were  very  doubtful,  have  turned 
many  of  your  former  enemies  into  warm  friends, 


86  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

and  by  a  few  hundred  dollars  more  expenditure, 
a  few  hot  speeches,  in  the  delivery  of  which  you 
have  no  superior,  in  districts  where  Walker  is 
likely  to  have  some  advantage,  a  few  more 
visits  to  saloons  in  the  city,  with  an  occasional 
glass  of  beer  or  wine  with  friends,  will  assure 
our  success.  And  now  will  you  disappoint  your 
father,  who  has  done  everything  to  get  his  son 
nominated,  and  who  has  set  his  heart  on  his 
son's  success?  Will  you  disappoint  the  candi- 
dates with  you  on  the  ticket,  and  will  you  disap- 
point and  receive  the  curses  of  the  party  you 
will  be  looked  upon  as  having  betrayed.  Re- 
flect, deliberate,  and  answer  for  yourself." 

"And  so,  to  be  successful  in  political  life," 
replied  Mr.  Gurney,  with  a  bitter  smile,  when 
Mr.  Welch  had  ceased  speaking,  "You  must 
cast  off  virtue  and  everything  that  is  sacred  to 
man  {  throw  yourself  on  the  bosom  of  ignorance 
and  vice;  associate  with  the  most  debauched  and 
degraded  of  mankind;  curse  capitalists  and  ne- 
groes; promise  every  scoundrel  a  lucrative  posi- 
tion ;  look  upon  every  one  who  abstains  from  the 
use  of  stimulants  as  an  enemy  to  the  laborer 
and  a  drawback  to  industry;  delude  these  poor 
debauched  wretches  with  a  promise  of  high 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  87 

wages,  cheap  whisky,  and  an  earthly  paradise, 
and  act  traitor  to  your  God,  to  your  country, 
and  to  yourself,  in  concocting  plans  to  stuff 
what  should  be  sacred  to  every  American,  the 
ballot  box,  with  illegal  votes.  I  admit  I  am 
young  and  a  novice  in  politics,  but  when  I  con- 
sented to  have  my  name  brought  before  the 
Convention  as  a  candidate  I  did  so  with  the  be- 
lief that  the  questions  at  issue  were  of  a  higher 
order,  a  nobler  purpose  than  those  which  have 
been  laid  before  me  since  my  nomination;  and 
could  my  father,  who,  by  the  way,  is  not  more 
versed  in  politics  than  I  am,  have  known  what 
I  have  learned  since  I  entered  the  political  arena, 
I  am  sure  he  would  have  been  the  last  man  to 
lay  in  a  claim  for  his  son." 

A  lengthy  pause  ensued;  both  men  seemed  to 
be  greatly  agitated;  when  at  last  Mr.  Welch 
broke  the  silence,  and  said — 

"Mr.  Gurney,  you  are  unjust,  and  judge  the 
party  from  a  wrong  standpoint.  I  discover  in 
your  words  that  the  evening  we  spent  at 
O'Brien's,  and  the  appearance  and  conversation 
of  those  poor  wretches  present,  have  made  a 
wrong  impression  on  your  mind.  The  party 
cannot  help  what  they  say,  nor  what  they  want 


88  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

and  demand.  I,  for  my  part,  let  it  go  in  at  one 
ear  and  out  at  the  other ;  all  that  we  want  is 
their  votes,  and  these  we  cannot  get  except  by 
flattering  them,  treating  them,  and  promising 
them  things  we  never  think  of  fulfilling.  We 
cast  them  off  like  useless  rubbish  after  the  elec- 
tion, and  repeat  the  same  again  when  we  enter 
into  another  political  campaign.  This  has  been 
done  ever  since  the  party  was  in  existence,  and 
will  be  done  for  a  good  many  years  to  come. 
It's  the  only  thing  that  assures  us  success,  and  is 
not  looked  upon  as  disgraceful  or  dishonorable." 
"The  evening  you  allude  to,"  replied  Mr. 
Gurney,  "has  indeed  made  an  impression  on  my 
mind,  and  I  think  not  a  wrongful  one  either. 
It  has  set  me  to  thinking,  and  convinced  me  of 
what  man  would  do  if  given  the  power.  I  am 
satisfied,  from  the  looks,  appearance  and  con- 
versation of  that  Carolinian  present,  that  had 
he  the  power,  the  work  of  a  Joshua  Giddings, 
Lloyd  Garrison,  William  Seward,  Lovejoy,  the 
martyr,  Charles  Sumner,  and  numerous  others, 
would  speedily  be  demolished,  and  slavery  again 
be  inaugurated  as  a  divine  institution;  and  I  think 
he  only  uttered  the  sentiments  of  his  country- 
men. So  the  others,  without  any  exception, 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  89 

lit  with  law  and  order,  and  look  upon 
can  form  of  government  as  an  institu- 
hich  they  can  do  as  they  please.     I  un- 
well the  hint  they  gave  me  as  to  our 
:rvant;  yet  when  I  compare  him  with 
cannot  help   exclaiming,    Thank    the 
it  he   has  created   a   black  man,  and 
s  from  being  compelled  to  engage  the 
of  such  men  of  our  own  race.     He  is 
Dur  service  for  over  ten  years;  scrupu- 
san  in  person  and  dress,  trustworthy  in 
ig,  agreeable   and    polite,  industrious, 
'e  intelligent  than  all  those  assembled 
O'Brien's  saloon.     When  he  came  to 
mid  neither  write  nor  read,  yet  by  his 
rtions,  and  without  the  aid  of  a  teacher, 
nplished  the  art  of  reading  and  writing, 
i  fair  scholar  in  arithmetic ;   something 
-etches  never  would  have  been  able  to 
ish  under  the  most  favorable  circum- 
and  yet  they  cry  down  the  negro.     Mr. 
you  know  my  mother  is  a  devoted  Chris- 
I  she  has  tried,  perhaps  unsuccessfully, 
;  up  her  children  in  the  same  way;  and 
•ho  have  been  taught  to  love  my  neigh- 
myself,  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  the 


90  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

needy,  and  to  lighten  the  burden  of  the  oppressed, 
yes,  can  I  conscientiously  take  the  stump,  and 
in  my  speeches  denounce  the  negro  as  an  evil 
among  us,  and  promise  to  assist  in  enacting 
laws  depriving  a  class  of  our  citizens  from 
enjoying  equal  rights  with  others  ?  I  think  the 
struggle  for  independence,  so  dearly  bought  by 
the  hardships  and  blood  of  our  forefathers,  was 
not  for  the  benefit  of  European  emigration  alone, 
but  for  the  benefit  of  all  oppressed,  regardless 
of  clime,  nationality,  race  or  color,  and  I  fully 
appreciate  the  motto  of  Lloyd  Garrison,  'The 
world  is  my  home,  and  mankind  my  country- 
men/ Why,  then,  this  persecution  and  hate 
against  negroes?  Is  there  not  room_ enough 
for  all  ?  Look  at  the  millions  of  acres  yet  un- 
cultivated; look  at  the  vast  territories  of  land 
of  which  we  as  yet  have  scarcely  any  knowledge, 
and  then  answer  these  questions  for  yourself.'  " 
"  Oh,  I  agree  with  you  very  well,"  said  Mr. 
Welch,  after  a  pause,  in  many  things  you  have 
said;  "but  you  must  not  judge  the  whole  party 
from  that  standpoint,  and  not  all  the  foreigners 
by  those  assembled  in  O'Brien's  saloon.  Neither 
can  you  look  upon  your  colored  servant  as  a 
pattern  for  the  colored  race." 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  91 

"May  God  forbid  that  I  shall  be  found  guilty 
of  accusing  anybody  wrongfully,"  replied  Mr. 
Gurney,  "or  be  classed  as  an  enemy  to  foreign- 
ers. The  memory  of  a  Carroll,  of  Carrolton,  of 
a  Steuben,  Kosciusko,  DeKalb,  Lafayette,  and 
others,  are  as  sacred  to  me  as  they  should  be  to 
every  true  American.  And  well  can  I  appre- 
ciate the  service  the  foreigners  have  rendered, 
in  war  or  in  peace,  on  the  battle  fields  or  in  the 
workshops.  But,  are  these  the  ones  that  croak 
and  find  fault  with  every  existing  law,  with 
capitalists  and  negroes  ?  I  think  not.  It  was 
only  a  few  weeks  before  our  Convention  was 
held  that  I  took  a  drive  with  my  mother,  in  the 
country.  It  was  by  the  advice  of  her  physician, 
who  thought  pure  country  air  would  have  a 
beneficial  influence  on  her  constitution.  We 
happened  to  get  into  a  German  settlement.  The 
fine  houses,  large  barns,  large  orchards,  nicely 
arranged  gardens,  and  fine  looking  horses,  sheep 
and  cattle,  everywhere  we  passed,  told  of  pros- 
perous and  happy  homes.  We  stopped  at  one 
of  these  farm  houses,  as  mother  wished  to  get  a 
drink  of  good,  fresh  milk;  and  I  found  the  in- 
terior corresponding  very  well  with  the  exterior. 
Comfort  and  luxury  combined.  Oh,  how  de- 


92  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

licious  tasted  the  milk  and  butter  offered  by  our 
hostess,  and  how  neat  and  clean  was  everything 
arranged.  'How  long  have  you  lived  here, 
madam,'  I  asked,  after  enjoying  our  repast  and 
asking  for  our  bill,  which  she,  smiling,  said  was 
nothing. 

"'It  is  twenty-eight  years'  she  said, in  somewhat 
broken  English,  '  since  my  husband  and  I  came 
from  Germany  and  settled  here.  It  was  quite 
a  wilderness  then ;  but  we  were  used  to  hard  work 
and  hard  living  too,'  she  added,  with  a  blush, 
'and  I'm  not  ashamed  to  say  we  were  very  poor; 
hardly  had  enough  to  pay  our  passage.  So  we 
went  to  work,  assisted  each  other,  cleared  patch 
after  patch  of  timber,  until  we  had  a  nice  little 
home,  and  added  to  it  each  year  a  little  more, 
and  have  now  enough  to  spend  the  rest  of  our 
days  in  ease.' 

"Such  foreigners,  and  we  have  thousands  of 
them,  are  worthy  citizens  of  a  free  government, 
indeed.  And  while  the  scum  of  foreign  element, 
combined  with  our  own,  centres  in  cities,  there  are 
also  exceptions;  for  some  of  our  most  enterpris- 
ing business  men,  as  well  as  some  of  our  most 
skilled  mechanics,  were  born  in  foreign  lands. 
But  these  men  do  not  curse  capitalists,  and 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  93 

persistently  traduce  the  colored  man.  They 
attend  to  their  business,  use  their  earnings  eco- 
nomically, lay  something  by  every  year,  and  can 
be  found,  in  advanced  age,  enjoying  the  fruits 
of  their  labor  equally  as  peacefully  and  pleas- 
antly as  their  countrymen  on  their  farms. 
Neither  do  I  take  our  servants  for  a  pattern  for 
the  colored  race.  I  know  they  have  their  faults, 
and  perhaps  a  good  many;  but  the  criminal 
record  of  the  country  does  not  show  a  greater 
amount  of  crimes  committed  by  colored  persons, 
in  proportion  to  their  number,  than  by  whites, 
and  even  if  it  did,  could  they  not  be  to  some 
extent  excused?  Have  they  had  the  advantages 
of  schools  that  we  have?  No !  kept  in  bondage 
for  centuries,  they  had  almost  every  vestige  of 
the  image  of  God  crushed  and  smothered  by 
their  oppressors,  who  only  cultivated  their  animal 
nature,  and  by  their  own  example  led  them  into 
vice.  And,  says  one  of  Germany's  favorite 
poets — 

"  From  the  vice  the  virtue  flies, 
And  universal  crime  is  law." 

And  I  think,  instead  of  cursing  them  for  what 
we  are  responsible  for,  it  would  be  better  to  lend 
them  a  helping  hand  in  bettering  their  condition 


94  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

socially  and  morally.  But  as  to  their  being  the 
cause  of  low  wages,  and  that  our  cities  are  over- 
stocked with  unemployed  laborers,  it  is  sheer 
nonsense.  No  man  who  carries  on  a  business 
will  think  it  advisable  to  discharge  sober,  indus- 
trious, skillful  mechanics  for  the  sake  of  hiring 
negroes ;  and  if  he  has  some  after  the  pattern  of 
those  we  saw  at  O'Brien's,  who  could  blame  him 
for  so  doing.  Labor  always  will  be  low  as  long 
as  the  multitude  of  our  workingmen  flock  to 
already  overcrowded  cities,  and  have  to  go  beg- 
ging for  an  existence.  Reverse  this,  and  you 
will  change  the  condition  of  the  workingman. 
The  farmer  pays  double  and  treble  at  harvest 
time  than  at  any  other  time  during  the  year, 
and  why  ?  Because  he  seeks  the  laborer,  the 
laborer  not  him.  Will  you  pay  fifty  dollars  for 
a  suit  at  a  merchant  tailor's  establishment,  when 
his  next  door  neighbor  offers  the  same  to  you 
for  thirty-five  ?  Most  assuredly  not.  But,  says 
the  former,  I  pay  so  much  more  for  my  machines 
than  the  other,  that  I  must  charge  higher  prices 
to  save  myself.  Yet  this  does  not  induce  you 
to  buy  his  goods,  and  you  close  the  bargain 
where  you  can  save  fifteen  or  twenty  dollars; 
and  when  day  after  day  and  week  after  week 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  £5 

pass  by,  and  the  fifty  dollar  suit  is  still  not  dis- 
posed of — yet  during  the  same  time  hundreds 
were  sold  by  his  neighbor — he  finds,  to  his  cost, 
that  he  is  compelled  to  lower  the  wages  of  his 
employees,  to  combat  with  his  neighbor,  or  shut 
up  shop.  This  holds  good  for  every  branch  of 
business,  and  can  only  be  remedied  by  a  demand 
for  labor,  instead  of  the  laborer  begging  for 
work.  Double  our  machine  shops,  factories, 
and  other  places  of  business,  still  the  condi- 
tion of  affairs  will  be  the  same.  The  only 
remedy  that  I  can  see  is,  to  get  this  surplus 
away  from  cities,  and  get  them  to  enter  into  the 
cultivation  of  the  soil,  where  they  could  make, 
with  a  little  exertion,  an  independent  living  for 
themselves  and  their  families.  But  this  is  just 
the  thing  they  will  not  do.  They  would  rather 
huddle  together  in  crowded  tenement  houses, 
equally  as  filthy,  if  not  more  so,  than  those  of 
the  filthiest  of  the  Chinese,  spend  their  pitiful 
earnings  which  they  make  through  the  summer 
for  whisky,  and  foster  a  miserable  existence 
through  the  winter  by  drawing  support  from 
soup  houses  and  other  similar  institutions. 
Then,  they  complain  that  it  is  impossible  for  the 
working  man  to  get  along." 


98  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

Again  a  pause  ensued,  which  at  length  was 
broken  by  Mr.  Gurney  asking  his  host  for 
another  glass  of  water,  which  was  handed  him, 
and  after  taking  some  himself  Mr.  Welch  said — . 

"Mr.  Gurney,  there  may  be  a  good  deal  of 
truth  in  what  you  have  said,  but  I  think  your 
imagination  has  overdrawn  the  picture.  Yet, 
were  it  not  overdrawn,  and  every  word  a  reality, 
it  should  only  act  as  a  spur  in  urging  you  to  a 
grander  effort  for  your  success.  For  only  by 
the  election  of  such  men,  and  with  your  talent, 
can  the  evils  of  which  you  speak  be  remedied. 
But  this  must  be  done  gradually,  and  takes  time 
and  patience.  One  thing  at  a  time,  for  more 
would  be  incomprehensible  to  many;  you  can 
work  reform  after  you  are  elected.  But,  as  you 
have  a  powerful  antagonist  in  this  campaign  in 
Mr.  Walker,  who  has  many  warm  friends,  I  would 
advise  you  not  to  utter  one  word  which  would 
be  likely  to  make  you  an  enemy.  We  need 
every  vote  to  assure  us  success.  Yet  we  will 
lose  thousands  if  you  carry  out  your  resolu- 
tion in  not  entering  saloons.  Has  your  father 
lost  any  of  his  reputation  as  an  honest,  upright, 
business  man;  as  a  good  moral  citizen;  as  a 
useful  member  of  society,  by  going  to  saloons 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  97 

and  eating  a  lunch  and  drinking  a  glass?  Most 
assuredly  not.  Has  he  turned  out  a  drunkard, 
by  the  use  of  stimulants  ?  Nobody  dare  say  so. 
Has  he  acquired  bad  habits,  formed  bad  associa- 
tions, or  turned  gambler?  Ha!  the  name  of 
David  Gurney  stands  too  high  for  such  accusa- 
tions. And  why  will  the  son  tremble  at  the 
mention  of  a  saloon,  with  such  a  pattern  before 
him.  If  stimulants  don't  agree  with  you,  take 
a  glass  of  lemonade  or  soda-water.  All  that  we 
want  is  to  show  friendship,  sociability,  liberality, 
in  fact,  a  disposition  to  please.  If  in  your  speech 
you  don't  want  to  bring  in  the  negro,  you  don't 
need  to  do  so.  You  are  a  master  in  the  delivery 
of  a  speech,  and  that  is  all  that  is  necessary, 
for  one-half  will  not  understand  what  is  said 
any  how,  and  Mr.  O'Brien  and  I  can  give  the 
preliminaries  and  the  explanations  after  you  are 
through;  it  is  for  this  that  I  desired  this  in- 
terview. You  know  Mr.  Dunlap,  the  Life  In- 
surance agent,  a  man  of  large  experience,  a  de- 
voted Christian,  and  also  a  strong  temperance 
man,  and  a  man  strongly  attached  to  our  party. 
His  business  takes  him  to  every  part  of  the 
county,  and  his  chances  of  observation  and  ac- 
quiring knowledge  as  to  public  sentiments  are, 


98  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

by  far,  greater  than  any  one  in  our  party,  to  my 
knowledge.  I  had  an  interview  with  him  yester- 
day, and  he  told  me,  unhesitatingly,  that  it  will 
take  the  greatest  effort  on  our  part  to  meet  with 
success.  Walker,  he  said,  has  hosts  of  friends, 
and  even  men  of  our  own  party  will  vote  for  him, 
if  a  great  effort  is  not  made  to  change  their  minds. 
Walker,  they  say,  is  an  experienced  lawyer,  and 
his  character  stands  unimpeachable.  While 
they  look  upon  you  as  a  very  fine  young  man, 
from  an  excellent  family,  they  question  your 
ability,  not  for  the  want  of  scholarship,  but  for 
the  want  of  practice.  Now,  in  your  first  race 
in  political  life,  should  you  vanquish,  triumph 
over,  such  an  antagonist  as  Mr.  Walker,  which 
is  only  optional  with  you,  what  is  to  hinder  you 
from  climbing  step  by  step  up  the  ladder  of  re- 
nown, and  filling  the  highest  stations  in  political 
life  ?  I  say  there  is  nothing.  And  when  this 
political  campaign  is  over,  and  excitement  has 
died  out,  nobody — not  even  saloon  keepers — will 
care  if  you  visit  their  places  or  not.  In  fact,  they 
don't  expect  you  to.  It  is  a  custom  the  party 
holds  to  during  a  political  campaign  ;  or,  if  you 
want^  it  otherwise,  a  genteel  way  of  stealing  a 
couple  of  hundred  dollars  out  of  a  candidate's 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  99 

pocket.  But  the  victory  is  well  worth  the  price. 
So,  cheer  up,  lay  aside  your  gloomy  appearance, 
be  cheerful,  and  all  will  be  right.  Let  us  make 
arrangements  for  public  speaking  in  the  differ- 
ent localities,  fix  date  and  day  to  suit  your  own 
convenience,  and  I  guarantee  Mike  and  I  will 
do  the  rest.  Now,  what  do  you  say  to  this  ? 
We  must  act.  Act  with  despatch,  and  with  a 
united,  harmonious  feeling.  Every  hour's  delay 
will  cost  us  dearly,  and  may  assist  in  our  defeat. 
And  now,  as  I  have  laid  the  whole  before 
you,  I  am  ready  to  hear  your  answer,  plans,  or 
anything  you  may  wish  to  say." 

The  speaker  ceased,  and  fixed  his  eyes  in- 
quiringly on  his  friend,  while  the  latter  sat  mute, 
his  eyes  on  the  floor. 

Waiting  for  some  time  without  getting  an  an- 
swer, Mr.  Welch  resumed — • 

"  Have  I  been  understood  ?" 

At  this  Mr.  Gurney  drew  a  long  breath, 
turned  toward  the  speaker,  and  slowly  said — 

"  Mr.  Welch,  I  have  listened  to  every  word 
you  have  said,  and  my  silence  when  you  ceased 
speaking  was  not  out  of  disrespect  to  you. 
When  you  mentioned  the  name  of  Mr.  Walker, 
my  mind  fastened  itself  on  an  address  of  his, 

7 


100  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

which  he  delivered  a  short  time  ago,  at  Hawks- 
ville,  and  which  was  given  in  full  in  one  of  our 
daily  papers.  I  reacl  and  re-read  it,  and  must 
confess  that  in  the  language  chosen,  in  points  of 
facts  and  force  of  argument,  I  have  not  as  yet 
found  its  superior;  and  if  I  were  called  upon 
to  express  my  sentiments,  I  only  need  to  repeat 
his  words.  He  wants  an  honest  administration, 
economy  and  reform  where  necessary,  equal 
rights  to  all,  and  the  enforcing  of  existing  laws. 
This  should  be  the  aim  of  every  true  American 
citizen,  and  all  should  work  to  that  end." 

"Mr.  Gurney,"  interrupted  Mr.  Welch,  "If  all 
existing  laws  were  strictly  enforced,  it  would 
damage  a  good  many  of  our  citizens  without 
doing  any  good,  and  would  make,  for  the  one  in- 
strumental in  enforcing  them,  a  good  many  ene- 
mies." 

"  Then,  if  useless,  why  not  strike  them  from 
our  statute  books  ?" 

"  Mr.  Walker,"  resumed  Mr.  Welch,  "  is  a 
very  good  speaker,  and  no  doubt  means  what 
he  says ;  but  you  can  make  the  same  argument, 
if  you  choose  to,  without  infringing  on  his  rights; 
but  my  experience  has  taught  me  that  the 
masses  don't  appreciate  such  addresses,  and  a 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  101 

speaker  who  tells  them  about  the  heroic  deeds 
of  Washington,  and  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  the 
great  statesman  and  writer  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  and  of  Old  Hickory  Jackson, 
will  raise  higher  in  their  estimation  than  the  one 
whose  arguments  are  based  on  facts  and  deep 
thoughts.  But  I  have  not,  as  yet,  heard  your 
answer  to  my  proposition." 

"  Mr.  Welch,  my  brain  is  somewhat  disturbed, 
and  I  cannot  come  to  a  conclusion,  and  conse- 
quently cannot  give  you  a  final  answer.  But  I 
shall  give  your  words  careful  consideration,  and 
will  be  prepared  to  give  you  my  decision  to- 
morrow evening." 

He  called  for  his  hat  and  whip,  bade  his  friend 
good  day,  who,  however,  accompanied  him  to 
his  phseton,  and  only  returned  after  his  visitor 
was  clear  out  of  sight,  with  a  sarcastic  smile. 
Emptying  a  glass  of  the  untouched  wine,  he 
said,  laughing  to  himself — 

"  Well,  the  saying  is,  the  stubborner  the  colt 
the  better  it  works  when  once  broken  into  the 
harness.  A  little  patience,  prudence  and  cun- 
ning will  bring  this  moral,  virtuous,  high-toned, 
Christian,  temperance  chap  all  right.  And  I 
would  not  be  afraid  to  bet  that  by  the  time  we 


102  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

enter  into  another  political  campaign  he  will 
call  for  the  bottle  instead  of  refusing  it" 

Emptying  another  glass,  and  reaching  for  his 
hat  and  cane,  he  went  on — 

"And  now  to  see  Parson  and  Mike  O'Brien." 
And  so  saying  he  turned  and  left  the  room. 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.      103 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  sun  was  not  yet  warm  enough  to  sip  up 
the  heavy  dew,  which  sparkled  on  the  grass 
and  foliage,  and  yet  the  roads,  that  were  in  very 
good  condition,  dry  but  not  dusty — thanks  to  a 
good  shower  that  fell  a  few  days  previous — 
were  already  alive  with  vehicles,  that  were  seen 
moving  in  all  directions  toward  -the  village  of 
Hawksville,  where  the  great  barbecue  was  to 
be  held  to-day. 

Hawksville  was  one  of  the  oldest  towns  in 
the  county,  and  situated  only  a  few  miles  from 
the  county  line.  The  country  surrounding  was 
mostly  settled  by  Carolinians,  Kentuckians,  and 
Tennesseeans,  and  the  founder  of  Hawksville 
was  of  Carolinian  parentage.  Richard  Mikly — 
now  one  of  the  wealthiest  and  most  prominent 
men  in  the  county — went  through  a  great  deal 
of  hardship  in  his  younger  days.  To  tell  his 
own  story,  he  never  had  the  handling  of  a  shoe 
or  boot  until  he  was  about  fifteen  years  old,  nor 
a  hat,  or  cap,  or  whatever  you  may  call  it,  except 
such  as  his  mother  plaited  him  out  of  straw. 


104  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

He  never  had  the  advantages  of  an  education, 
for  in  his  youth  there  were  no  school-houses  in 
his  neighborhood.  He  was  very  industrious 
while  yet  a  little  boy,  and  laid,  in  early  days, 
what  is  considered  by  many  the  foundation  for 
riches,  by  holding  fast  to  everything,  even  of 
the  smallest  value,  that  came  into  his  grasp.  In 
the  fall  he  would,  gather  walnuts,  hickory  nuts, 
and  hazel-nuts,  carry  them  for  miles  on  an  old 
pony  that  his  father  lent  him,  and  dispose  of 
them  at  paying  prices.  He  did  not  spend  his 
money  foolishly,  like  most  fellows  of  his  age 
would  have  done,  but  held  on  to  it,  and  when 
yet  in  his  teens  had  quite  a  little  sum.  His  fre- 
quent visits  to  the  city,  and  his  inquisitive  na- 
ture, made  him  acquainted  with  many  articles  in 
trade,  and  he  was  satisfied  that  there  was  more 
money  in  whisky  than  anything  else.  Every- 
body in  the  settlement,  to  the  best  of  his  know- 
ledge, drank  it ;  and  no  log-rolling,  house-rais- 
ing, shooting-match,  or  horse-racing,  could  be 
successfully  accomplished  without  it.  Whisky 
was  cheap  then,  so  why  not  invest  a  few  dollars 
and  give  it  a  trial.  If  people  had  not  the  ready 
cash,  scarcely  a  settler  but  what  had  more  or 
less  raccoon,  opossum,  mink,  and  other  fur,  and 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  105 

to  barter  it  off  that  way  w  mid  only  make  him 
double  profit  and  quicker  sales ;  so  try  he  did. 
He  built  him  a  little  log  house  at  the  cross- 
roads, and  stocked  it  with  a  barrel  of  whisky, 
and  so  laid  the  foundation  of  his  wealth  and  the 
town  of  Hawksville.  His  stock  was  soon  ex- 
hausted, and  he  was  compelled  to  lay  in  a  larger 
supply,  to  keep  up  with  the  daily  increasing  de- 
mand. Dick,  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  was 
now  looked  upon  as  a  real  benefactor  to  the 
country.  People  did  not  need  to  travel  thirty 
or  forty  miles  any  more,  to  get  rid  of  their  fur, 
and  on  returning  nearly  kill  their  ponies — for 
wagons  were  not  in  vogue  then — by  overloading 
them  with  jugs  of  whisky,  and  bags  of  lead  and 
powder.  They  could  get  it  close  at  home,  just 
as  cheap,  and  whenever  they  wanted  it. 

But  he  was  not  contented  with  the  sale  of 
liquor  alone.  His  penetrating  mind  soon  disco- 
vered money  in  another  channel.  The  country 
was  full  of  hogs ;  of  course  they  were  not 
Chester  Whites,  Berkshire,  Suffolk,  Poland, 
China,  or  any  other  improved  stock,  kept  in 
clover  pastures  in  the  summer  and  corn-fatted 
in  the  fall.  They  lived  on  wild  grass,  acorns 
and  nuts,  and  weighed  about  a  hundred  or  a 


106  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

hundred  and  twenty-five  pounds  when  fat,  and 
were  nicknamed  by  passing  Yankees  as  "  hazel- 
splitters"  and  "elm-peelers."  They  were  not 
owned  or  raised  by  any  one  in  particular,  but 
were  looked  upon  as  common  property,  and  any 
one  who  felt  like  partaking  of  a  mess  of  pork 
helped  himself.  Dick  heard  of  pork-packing, 
and  what  enormous  fortunes  some  had  made  in 
that  line.  Why  not  give  it  a  trial  ?  Even  if  the 
hogs  were  not  as  good  as  those  he  heard  spoken 
of,  the  meat  would  sell  at  some  price,  while  the 
hogs  would  scarcely  cost  him  anything  worth 
mentioning. 

This  enterprise  was  as  successful  as  his  first, 
and  Dick  Mikly  became  a  man  of  note. 

The  land  was  productive  and  cheap,  which 
attracted  the  attention  of  Eastern  people,  and 
an  influx  of  Eastern  immigration  was  percep- 
tible. 

The  keen,  gray  eyes  of  Dick  quickly  discov- 
ered that  their  wants,  habits,  and  mode  of  living 
were  greatly  different  from  what  he  was  used  to. 
They  detested  log  huts;  wanted  lumber  to 
build  frame  houses ;  wanted  something  better 
than  homespun  clothing,  sugar,  coffee,  tea,  and 
many  other  articles  for  which  his  country  people 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  107 

had  no  use ;  and  so  he  resolved  to  enlarge  his 
building,  lay  in  a  full  stock  of  goods  likely 
to  be  called  for,  and  start  what  is  so  neces- 
sary for  the  prosperity  of  a  country — a  saw-mill. 
He  had  by  this  time  acquired  large  tracts  of 
land,  and  owned  considerable  where  his  store 
was  situated.  The  idea  now  struck  him  to  lay 
out  a  village,  to  divide  off  his  land  into  lots.  In 
this,  as  in  every  other  enterprise,  he  met 
with  unusual  success,  and  very  soon  he  had 
disposed  of  nearly  every  lot  of  land  laid  off. 
And  while  it  brought  competition  in  his  trade, 
the  saw-mill  more  than  compensated  him  for 
his  loss.  Several  business  houses  sprung  up,  in 
short  succession,  and  a  blacksmith  shop,  boot 
and  shoe  shop,  and  several  saloons  quickly  fol- 
lowed, and  Buzzard's  Glory — the  name  some  in- 
genious Yankee  had  given  the  village — became 
the  centre  of  attraction.  Scarcely  a  day  passed 
without  a  horse-race  or  shooting-match,  and  if 
this  was  not  accompanied  by  one  or  two  fights, 
it  was  looked  upon  as  a  dull  day. 

I  wonder  if  it  would  not  pay,  he  said  to  him- 
self one  evening,  after  witnessing  three  or  four 
horse  races — to  clear  out  the  underbrush  and 
surplus  trees  from  five  or  six  acres  of  land,  en- 


108  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

close  it  with  a  high  board  fence,  rent  it  out  for 
horse-racing,  shooting-matches,  and  circuses? 
I've  got  the  lumber,  and  can  use  such  as  I  can- 
not dispose  of  otherwise.  It  was  a  capital  idea, 
and  soon  carried  into  execution,  and  opened 
another  avenue  to  Dick's  income. 

Buzzard's  Glory  grew  rapidly,  and  although 
some  pious  settlers,  not  accustomed  to  such  a  life, 
and  deprived  of  their  churches,  pulled  up  stakes 
and  left,  others  took  their  places,  and  German 
and  Irish  saloons,  to  a  goodly  number,  were  soon 
in  full  blast. 

Dick  had  quit  the  business  of  selling  whisky, 
and  in  connection  with  his  store  and  saw-mill 
established  a  loan  office.  He  did  this,  he  said, 
more  to  accommodate  people  than  to  make  any- 
thing by  it,  and  was  ever  ready  to  lend  a  help- 
ing hand,  in  the  shape  of  a  loan,  to  any  one  who 
could  make  him  safe.  He  did  not  exact  exorbi- 
tant prices,  but  only  bank  rates,  as  he  called  it, 
which  was  two  per  cent,  per  month,  with  a 
year's  interest  in  advance,  taken  out  of  the  loan. 
He  was  equally  modest  in  shaving  paper,  which 
he  did  for  twenty-five  to  thirty-five  per  cent,  and 
he  declared,  upon  his  honor,  that  he  never  made 
a  cent  by  that  operation,  as  it  was  always  worth 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  109 

that  amount  to  collect  it.  He  had  a  horrible 
dislike  to  national  banks,  "For,"  said  he,  "by 
the  old  banking  system  a  person  could  occa- 
sionally make  a  penny  by  charging  discount  on 
exchange,  but  this  is  all  done  away  with  now,  as 
their  notes  go  at  par  everywhere.  That  is  a 
miserable  swindle,  and  prevents  a  good  many 
making  an  honest  living." 

Buzzard's  Glory  was  as  yet  without  a  church; 
but  when  Dick  got  converted,  at  a  religious  re- 
vival which  was  carried  on  in  his  enclosure,  he 
went  earnestly  to  work,  headed  a  subscription 
list  with  five  dollars,  and  soon  a  modest  struc- 
ture invited  the  sinner  to  come  and  listen  to  the 
word  of  God.  Dick  often  said  he  never  did  a 
better  work  in  his  life.  "  It's  true,"  he  would 
add,  "  it  costs  a  good  deal  to  keep  up  a  church 
and  parson,  but  it  helped  me  in  my  business 
powerfully." 

Gradually  the  village  increased  in  size,  and 
now,  with  about  a  thousand  inhabitants,  it  can 
boast  of  a  flouring-mill,  several  dry  goods  stores, 
groceries,  harness  shops,  tin-shops,  photograph 
gallery,  drug  stores,  numerous  saloons,  and  all 
kinds  of  mechanics  generally  found  in  a  country 
village.  A  few  years  ago  the  citizens  voted  to 


110  KICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

have  it  incorporated,  and  designated  by  a 
more  suitable  and  better  sounding  name,  instead 
of  the  hateful  one  it  was  known  by.  So  the 
wise  committee  appointed  for  that  purpose,  in 
which  Dick  Mikly  figured  as  chairman,  adopted, 
after  rejecting  several  others,  the  high-sounding 
name  of  Hawksville. 

To-day  was  a  gala  day  in  the  village.  The 
national  flags  were  displayed  at  most  of  the 
dwellings  as  well  as  business  houses.  The  un- 
usual activity  of  its  citizens  in  arranging  every- 
thing tastefully,  and  the  arrival  of  vehicles  of  all 
kinds  in  great  numbers,  heavily  loaded  with 
human  cargoes,  would  have  convinced  any  ob- 
server that  something  extraordinary  was  in  pro- 
gress or  expected.  And  so  it  was.  It  was,  as 
we  mentioned  in  the  beginning  of  our  chapter, 
the  day  for  the  great  barbecue  to  be  held  at 
Mikly's  Grove.  The  surrounding  neighborhood 
for  miles  was  informed  of  this  fact  by  the  dis- 
play of  large  posters  at  every  available  place  of 
note,  which  invited  them  to  come  and  partake 
of  the  citizens'  hospitality,  and  to  hear  the  young 
lion  orator,  Arthur  Gurney,  the  candidate  for 
Prosecuting  Attorney,  who  had  accepted  an  in- 
vitation to  be  there  and  address  the  people  on 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  Ill 

the  issues  of  the  day.  Henry  Welch,  the  candi- 
date for  Treasurer,  and  Mike  O'Brien,  the  candi- 
date for  Sheriff,  also  promised  to  be  present.  A 
good  time  was  generally  anticipated,  and  the 
kind-hearted  people  of  the  village  had  made  all 
necessary  arrangements  to  entertain  their 
guests. 

They  roasted  a  whole  beef,  as  well  as  several 
calves,  hogs,  and  sheep,  and  the  women  vied 
with  each  other  in  the  display  of  cakes,  jellies, 
and  knick-knacks  too  numerous  to  mention. 
Several  wagon  loads  of  beer  had  just  arrived, 
for  the  benefit  of  those  suffering  with  torpid 
livers ;  and  lemonade  venders  were  busily  en- 
gaged preparing  for  their  customers.  While  in 
the  village  everything  was  activity,  it  was  even 
more  so  at  Mikly's  Grove.  The  man  with  a 
swing  had  arrived  and  was  busily  engaged. 
Next  to  him  was  the  man  with  the  big  hammer. 
Not  far  distant  was  the  man  with  the  peep-show, 
in  which  he  said  the  whole  world  could  be  seen 
and  seven  additional  villages.  The  wheel  of 
fortune  had  already  begun  operations,  and  at  the 
lifting  machine  the  work  had  commenced  in 
earnest.  In  one  corner  preparations  were  being 
made  for  a  bran  dance,  and  numerous  venders 


112  NICK:  PUTZEL;  OR 

of  fermented  and  distilled  liquors  were  already 
very  busy  waiting  on  customers. 

The  owner  would  never  charge  political  par- 
ties for  the  use  of  the  Grove,  but  a  reasonable 
amount,  ranging  from  five  to  twenty-five  dollars, 
to  such  parties  exhibiting  and  selling,  as  we  have 
already  described.  This  was,  as  he  said,  to  de- 
fray expenses  and  keep  the  grove  in  good 
order. 

But  time  passed  on  and  the  sun  was  not  far 
from  showing  the  mid-hour  of  the  day.  The 
people  of  the  village  as  well  as  those  from  the 
country  grew  restless,  and  already  began  talk- 
ing of  disappointment,  but  it  was  only  for  a  mo- 
ment. The  sight  of  a  band  wagon  and  several 
carriages  approaching  in  the  distance  satis- 
fied every  one  that  those  expected  were  coming. 
Nearer  and  nearer  they  approached ;  the  mu- 
sicians were  seen  preparing  their  instruments, 
and  with  a  beautiful  performance  of  the  Star 
Spangled  Banner,  they  entered  the  village  and 
slowly  made  their  way,  amidst  the  shouts  of  the 
multitude,  to  the  headquarters  of  the  party, 

Three  men  riding  with  bared  heads  in  an 
open  carriage  behind  the  band  wagon  now 
alighted  and  were  warmly  welcomed  by  a  com- 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  113 

mittee  appointed  for  that  purpose.  It  was  use- 
less to  try  to  get  to  the  entrance ;  every  passage 
was  blockaded,  and  shouts  of  Arthur  Gurney, 
Mike  O'Brien,  and  Henry  Welch,  rent  the  air. 

Seeing  that  no  progress  toward  the  entrance 
could  be  made,  Judge  Burton,  the  police  magis- 
trate of  Hawksville,  and  spokesman  of  the  com- 
mittee, mounted  the  carriage  and  in  a  thunder- 
ing voice  commanded  silence. 

When  quiet  was  somewhat  restored  he  said — 

"  Clear  the  passage,  so  that  our  visitors  can 
enter  the  house,  and  I  assure  you  you  will  not 
have  long  to  wait  before  making  their  acquaint- 
ance." 

His  words  had  the  desired  effect,  and  a  few 
minutes  later  a  tall,  handsome  young  man  made 
his  appearance  on  the  balcony  by  the  side  of  the 
Judge. 

The  commanding  figure,  and  frank,  open 
countenance  of  the  stranger  must  have  drawn 
the  attention  of  the  spectators,  for  all  were  silent 
when  the  Judge,  stepping  forward  and  waving 
his  hand  toward  his  companion,  said — 

"Fellow  citizens,  ladies  and  gentlemen:  it 
gives  me  great  pleasure  to  introduce  to  you 
our  distinguished  visitor,  Arthur-  Gurney  our 


114  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

candidate  for  Prosecuting  Attorney,  who  has 
consented  to  address  you  at  one  o'clock,  at  Mik- 
ley's  Grove,  on  the  political  issues  of  the  day." 

Three  rousing  cheers  were  proposed  and 
given  for  Arthur  Gurney  and  the  ticket. 

And  when  the  same  performance  with  Henry 
Welch,  the  candidate  for  Treasurer,  and  Mike 
O'Brien,  the  candidate  for  Sheriff,  had  closed,  the 
marshals  appointed  for  the  day  formed  the  crowd 
in  procession,  and,  with  the  band  in  the  lead  and 
the  candidates  following,  marched  to  the  Grove, 
where  dinner  was  announced  and  everybody  in- 
vited to  partake. 

The  village  now  looked  as  if  deserted.  Only 
the  bar-rooms  showed  signs  of  life.  Here,  with 
the  flow  of  grog  and  lager,  politics  and  the  dis- 
tinguished arrivals  were  the  topic  of  conversa- 
tion. 

"  Dis,"  said  Hans  Mauser,  the  proprietor  of 
the  Walhalla  Saloon,  "looks  like  Shermany;  all 
der  difference  der  ish  dey  haf  der  picknics  on 
Sundays.  Dey  haf  not  got  de  dime  in  de  week 
tay.  But  on  de  Sunday  dey  go  in  de  morning 
into  de  church,  unt  after  dey  eat  der  tinner  dey 
go  to  de  peer  garten  unt  peer  cellars,  where 
dey  have  music  and  dancing,  unt  dey  have  lots 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  115 

of  fun.  Unt  den  de  shtudents,  dey  climbs  up  on 
high  hills,  where  der  is  olt  broken  down  castles  ; 
dey  haf  de  peer  brought  up  dere,  unt  dey  always 
haf  horns  unt  odder,  dings  mit  dem,  what  dey 
trink  out  of,  and  sometimes  get  so  trunk  dey 
haf  to  pring  dem  home  mit  de  wagon,  unt  de 
fellers  dat  cannot  trink  enuf  has  to  bay  for  de 
peer.  Oh,  man,  I  seen  dat  lots  of  dimes,  unt 
nopoty  says  a  word  apout  it.  Dey  calls  dis 
here  a  free  country,  unt  ven  a  person  trinks  a 
glass  of  peer  or  whisky  dey  tinks  dat's  awful  ; 
unt  ven  a  man  sells  one  on  Sunday  dey  wants  to 
shut  him  in  de  jail.  Mein  Gott,  I'd  rather  live 
unter  a  king  or  queen  dan  in  such  a  country  as 
dat.  Put  dis  all  cum  vrom  dem  demperance 
unt  dem  Medodist.  Dey  wants  everypody  to 
do  nudings  put  praying,  unt  have  no  fun  at  all. 
Dey  wants  to  git  to  elect  der  dicket  dis  year, 
unt  when  dey  gets  into  power  dey'll  preak  us 
all  up.  You  could  see  dat  plain  sticking  out 
ven  dat  feller  Walker  spoke  here.  You  seen 
dem  olt,  pig,  fat  Quakers,  mit  dem  proad- 
brimmed  hats,  unt  dem  fat  wimmen,  mit  dem 
ugly  ponnets,  triving  in  der  vine  carriages, 
coming  and  going,  mitout  spendin  a  cent !  Yes, 
dey  shtop  in  de  shtores  unt  puy  dings  dere,  but 

8 


116  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

you  wait  until  a  shaloon-keeper  gets  a  cent  out 
of  dem,  will  you  ?     Unt  dese  stiff  Presbaterians, 
unt  howling  Medodists  is  shust  as  pat ;  unt  shust 
such  stuff  is  what  der  bardy  is  mate  out  of.     I 
tell  you  we  must  all  help  togedder  to  beat  dem." 
"  Oh,    the    country   is    nothing   like    it   was 
twenty-five  years  ago,"  said  a  tall  Tennesseean. 
"  When  I  settled  here  you  didn't  need  to  work 
hardly  any  to  make  a  living.     We  planted  a 
little  corn  and  raised  a  little  baccer  for  ourselves, 
which  our  wimmen  generally  tended.     Then  we 
took  our  rifles  and  dogs  and  went  out  hunting. 
The  country  was  full  of  wild  turkeys  and  deers, 
and  our  whisky  money  we  made  out  of  furs ; 
coons,  possums,  and  mink  were  plenty;  and  when 
we  wanted  a  mess,  of  pork,  we  went  out  with 
our  gun  and  killed  a  hog — they  belonged  to 
one  as  well  as  another.     And  how  much  fun  we 
used  to  have  at  shooting-matches  and  horse- 
races ;  'tis  true  there  was  occasionally  a  fight, 
when  the  whisky  got  the  upper  hand  of  them, 
but  there  wasn't  half  as  much  harm  done  as  they 
do  now  with  the  pistols  that  these  Yankees  in- 
vented.    Ever  since  these  Yankee  and  Quaker 
Abolitionists  and  them  Pennsylvanians  settled 
here  everything  is  changed.     They  never  can 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  117 

get  enough — always  clearing,  and  fencing,  and 
improving,  hogs,  horses,  and  cattle,  and  even 
commencing  on  the  chickens.  They  have  driven 
all  the  game  off;  deers  and  wild  turkeys  can't  be 
seen  any  more,  and  it  keeps  a  fellow  hunting 
all  day  just  to  get  a  squirrel.  The  fur  business 
is  all  played  out,  too,  and  instead  of  going  out 
in  the  woods  and  shooting  a  hog,  where  they 
used  to  run  wild,  you  now  have  to  keep  them 
up,  and  work  yourself  to  death  raising  corn  to 
fatten  them.  We  didn't  think  nothing  of  walk- 
ing a  mile  or  two  with  our  wimmen,  dressed  in 
homespun  and  barefooted,  to  meeting,  to  lis- 
ten to  a  good  sermon  from  our  old-fashioned 
Baptist  preacher,  who,  by-the-by,  knew  more 
than  all  their  educated  flops.  But  if  you  would 
do  it  now,  they  would  snicker  at  you,  and  call 
you  a  heathen.  Whisky  wasn't  looked  upon  as 
a  monster;  it  was  kept  by  every  family,  and  even 
preachers  carried  it  along  in  their  saddle-bags. 
Taxes  were  a  mere  trifle  then,  as  we  didn't  have 
every  half  a  mile  a  school-house ;  we  didn't 
work  four  or  five  days  every  year  on  roads  or 
pay  road-tax,  because  we  didn't  keep  fine  car- 
riages and  buggies,  that  needed  fine,  smooth 
roads  to  dash  along.  Our  ox-teams  could  pull 


118  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

all  that  we  wanted  to  haul,  in  any  kind  of  roads, 
without  getting  stalled  either. 

"  This  is,  as  I  say,  all  changed  now,  and  I'm 
afraid  the  good  old  time  will  never  come  back 
again.  But  I  have  made  up  my  mind  if  things 
don't  go  better,  and  they  bring  on  a  few  more 
niggers,  of  which  they  seem  so  fond,  I'll  pull  up 
stakes  and  move  out  to  Texas." 

"  You  won't  find  it  better  out  there,  man,"  in- 
terrupted an  Irishman.  "These  Yankees  and 
negroes  are  like  fleas,  they  are  everywhere. 
The  best  thing  is  to  stay  where  you  are,  and  go 
to  the  polls  and  vote  the  right  kind  of  a  ticket. 
And  I  tell  you  if  we  get  in  such  men  as  Mike 
O'Brien,  we'll  soon  send  them  with  their  ne- 
groes to  the  dogs.  But  I'm  afraid  their  choice 
for  Prosecuting  Attorney  wasn't  a  good  one. 
That  fellow  looks  a  little  too  dignified  for  me." 

"I  thought  so  too,"  interrupted  another 
speaker,  "  but  Mr.  Dunlap,  the  insurance  agent, 
with  whom  I  spoke  the  other  day,  said  he  was 
a  first-rate  fellow,  but  never  was  away  from 
home  very  much,  except  in  school,  and  is  a  little 
shy,  but  get  him  started  and  he  never  knows 
when  to  stop,  and  spends  money  as  freely  as 
any  one  you  ever  saw.  He's  just  got  over  a 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  119 

spell  of  sickness,  he  said,  and  dare  not  drink  any 
whisky  now,  on  account  of  his  lungs ;  but  it's 
all  the  same,  he  makes  it  up  treating  others. 
Mr.  Welch,  too,  they  say,  is  a  very  clever  fellow. 
He  has  lots  of  friends,  and  you  never  catch  him 
without  a  bottle  in  his  pocket.  I  tell  you,  I  think 
it's  a  very  good  ticket,  and  if  that  fellow  Gurney 
can  speak  as  well  as  he  looks,  and  they  say  he 
can  do  it  a  durn  sight  better,  Walker  and  them 
others  will  be  beat  as  sure  as  you  are  born." 

"Oh,"  said  the  proprietor,  laughing,  "dat 
young  man  ish  all  right.  He  send  me  wort  by 
de  Judge  to  dreat  all  his  friends,  unt  he  would 
foot  de  pill  dis  evening.  Dat  sounds  like  pisness, 
eh !  And  so,  barkeeper,  you  petter  ask  de  gen- 
tlemens  what  dey  dake,  unt  we  all  trink  a  glass 
at  his  expense,  unt  trink  for  de  success  of  Arthur 
Gurney  unt  de  ticket." 

And  to  the  success  of  Arthur  Gurney  and  the 
ticket  the  glasses  were  emptied. 

It  is  not  necessary  that  the  reader  should  fol- 
low me  to  every  saloon,  as  the  topic  of  conver- 
sation was,  with  very  little  variation,  the  same. 
And  so  we  will  leave  the  saloons  and  their  oc- 
cupants, and  see  what  is  going  on  in  the  Grove. 

The  dinner-table  had  long  since  been  cleared 


120  NICK    PUTZEL  ;    OR 

away,  and  Arthur  Gurney  was  addressing  those 
assembled. 

Was  it  the  clear,  ringing  voice,  or  the  subject 
upon  which  he  was  speaking,  that  attracted  the 
attention  of  all  ?  For  the  swing,  the  wheel  of 
fortune,  the  hammer,  and  the  man  with  the  lift- 
ing machine  had  stopped  operations.  The  man 
with  the  peep  show  had  ceased  telling  the  people 
of  the  wonders  of  the  world,  the  dancers  were 
silent,  and  even  the  venders  of  refreshments 
stood  motionless,  with  open  mouths,  and  had 
their  gaze,  like  all  the  others,  fastened  on  the 
speaker. 

It  wras  a  triumph  for  Arthur  Gurney,  and 
when  he  ceased  speaking,  three  cheers,  such  as 
never  were  heard  before,  crowned  the  speaker's 
effort. 

Mr.  Welch  was  called  and  took  the  stand,  but 
excused  himself  by  saying  that  he  did  not  wish 
to  be  made  a  laughing  stock,  which  surely  would 
be  the  case  if  he  should  attempt  to  speak  after 
his  friends  had  listened  to  such  an  orator  as  the 
one  who  had  just  addressed  them.  But  he 
would  say  that  if  elected  he  would  try  to 
serve  the  people  faithfully,  to  use  the  money 
entrusted  to  his  care  economically,  and  do  all 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  121 

in  his  power  to  better  the  condition  of  the 
working  men. 

Three  cheers  again  were  proposed  and  given, 
when  Mike  O'Brien,  the  candidate  for  Sheriff, 
was  called  and  took  the  stand. 

He  said  he  was  no  speaker;  he  never  was 
educated  to  that;  but  he  had  as  big  a  heart  as 
any  one,  and  if  elected  wouldn't  bring  the  county 
to  the  expense  of  paying  two  or  three  deputies 
for  helping  to  arrest  a  man  ;  he  would  give  his 
pledge  to  do  that  himself.  He  had  handled  a 
good  many  fellows  in  his  life,  and  knew  just  how 
to  do  it.  This  was  about  all  he  had  to  say,  but 
before  closing  he  added,  that  he  wished  to 
be  elected  by  white  folks,  and  he  didn't  want  an 
abolitionist  or  negro  to  vote  for  him. 

Again  three  rousing  cheers  rent  the  air,  when 
the  president  announced  several  appointments, 
and  dismissed  the  crowd. 

The  band  now  struck  up  the  Red,  White  and 
Blue,  and  while  the  candidates  went  through 
the  usual  ceremonies  of  hand-shaking  and  con- 
gratulation, the  different  exhibitors,  as  well  as 
the  venders  of  spirits,  resumed  operations.  The 
dancers  took  their  places,  and  the  greater  num- 
ber of  those  present  took  their  departure. 


122  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

A  buggy  driven  by  Mr.  Mikly  made  its  way 
to  the  speakers'  stand,  in  which  Mr.  Gurney, 
who  seemed  very  much  fatigued,  took  his  seat, 
and  was  driven  off  to  the  residence  of  the 
former. 

The  two  other  candidates  remained,  and 
wending  their  way  to  the  refreshment  stand,  in- 
vited all  to  come  and  partake  of  a  social  drink. 

"  This  reminds  me  of  the  time  General  Jack- 
son, '  Old  Hickory,'  as  he  was  called,  ran  for 
President,"  said  a  man  somewhat  advanced  in 
years.  "  I  was  living  in  Kentucky,  then,  and  I 
tell  you,  when  we  had  a  picnic,  or  barbecue,  we 
just  rolled  in  two  or  three  barrels  of  whisky, 
took  the  head  out  of  one  end,  and  everybody 
just  helped  himself.  We  didn't  bother  with 
glasses,  we  just  had  tin  cups  and  gourcls,  and  I 
like  that  a  good  deal  better,  for  if  one  fellow 
took  a  little  more  than  another,  it  couldn't  be 
noticed.  But  they  were  not  particular  there,  no 
how.  And  stars !  what  fights  we  sometimes 
had !  When  a  little  excited  we'd  call  each  other 
liars,  which  never  was  settled  without  a  fight; 
but  when  a  fellow  hollered  enough,  it  was  taken 
for  granted  he  acknowledged  that  he  was  wrong, 
and  they  would  make  it  up  again,  shake  hands, 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  123 

drink  together,  and  that  was  the  end  of  it.  I 
tell  you,  give  me  old  Kentucky !  If  they  do  call 
the  people  a  little  rough  and  high-spirited,  they 
never  act  the  sneak  and  hypocrite." 

"  Yes,"  interrupted  another,  "  and  this  is  just 
what  I  like  about  our  candidate  for  Sheriff,  and 
he  shall  have  my  vote,  and  I'll  make  him  fifty 
others,"  and  turning  to  that  gentleman,  who 
stood  close  by,  he  added — 

"  My  friend,  your  remarks  suited  me  better 
than  anything  I  heard  to-day,  or  have  heard  for 
some  time.  You  hit  the  nail  on  the  head  when 
you  said  you  didn't  want  any  abolitionist  or 
negro  to  vote  for  you.  That  means  business, 
and  it  didn't  take  two  hours  to  tell  the  people. 
They  are  plain  words,  that  everybody  can  un- 
derstand. I  despise  this  high-flowered,  sweet- 
scented  stuff  that  young  Gurney  fed  the  people 
with.  I  tell  you,  I  didn't  understand  one-half, 
and  a  good  many  other  people  said  they  didn't. 
And  he  seems  to  be  too  proud  to  mix  with  com- 
mon people,  and  too  stingy  to  treat  his  friends 
to  a  glass.  I  must  form  a  better  opinion  of  him 
before  he  gets  my  vote." 

"  My  friend,"  interrupted  the  candidate  for 
Treasurer,  "  you  judge  Mr.  Gurney  wrongfully. 


124  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

He  has  just  got  over  a  severe  spell  of  sickness, 
which  affected  his  lungs,  and  his  physician  told 
him  that  if  he  was  not  very  careful  it  might  re- 
sult in  something  serious.  That's  the  reason  he 
drove  off  with  Mr.  Mikly,  to  have  a  few  hours' 
rest.  But  as  to  his  stinginess,  you  are  entirely 
mistaken,  for  there  is  not  a  man  to  be  found 
more  liberal  than  he." 

While  speaking,  Mr.  Welch  had  opened  his 
pccket-book,  from  which  he  took  two  ten-dollar 
bills,  and  laying  them  on  the  table,  added — 

"  Before 'he  left  the  stand  he  slipped  these  two 
bills  into  my  hand,  and  said — 

" '  Mr.  Welch,  I'm  unable  to  be  with  my 
friends ;  take  this  and  have  them  take  a  glass  to 
our  success.' "  . 

The  sight  of  such  a  sum  of  money  worked 
like  magic,  and  hurrahs,  mingled  with  "good," 
"  noble  fellow,"  "  he's  my  man,"  "  he'll  have  my 
vote,"  and  "  I'll  go  through  thick  and  thin  for 
him,"  were  heard  long  after  rounds  and  rounds 
were  disposed  of. 

But  the  candidates  had  business  in  the  vil- 
lage. They  had  mingled  with  the  people  in  the 
Grove,  had  spent  quite  a  sum  of  money,  and 
had  made  many  a  warm  friend.  They  could 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  125 

not  leave  Hawksville  without  calling  on  the 
friends  there,  so,  ordering  another  round  to  the 
success  of  the  ticket,  they  bade  their  friends 
adieu  and  left  for  the  village. 

Most  of  the  country  people  had  departed. 
But  while  the  stores  and  workshops  were  de- 
serted, there  were  still  enough  left  to  fill  every 
saloon  to  its  utmost  capacity,  and  when  the  can- 
didates, after  first  paying  their  respects  to  mer- 
chants and  other  prominent  partisans,  entered 
the  Working  Men's  Hall,  John  Luz,  proprietor, 
political  conversation  was  at  fever  heat,  and  the 
most  excited  of  all  was  the  proprietor  himself. 

John  Luz  was  only  a  few  years  in  the  country. 
He  was  by  profession  a  linen  weaver,  and 
served,  before  coming  to  this  country,  as  a  dra- 
goon in  the  German  army.  He  had  a  very  sol- 
dierly bearing,  and  spent  every  leisure  moment 
in  cultivating  his  moustache,  without  which,  he 
said,  no  man  looked  well. 

Not  finding  any  employment  at  his  trade,  by 
the  help  of  some  friends  he  raised  a  few  dollars 
and  started  the  above  named  saloon. 

When  the  committee  .of  arrangements  for 
the  great  barbecue  met,  the  question  arose  who 
would  likely  be  the  most  suitable  person  to  act 


126  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

as  marshal  of  the  day,  and  their  choice  fell 
unanimously  on  John  Luz. 

When  he  was  informed  of  their  decision  he 
was  thunderstruck. 

"  Is  it  possible — no,  it  cannot  be — it  must  be 
a  mistake — me,  a  stranger,  crowned  with  such 
honor!"  and  when,  recovering"  himself,  he  was  as- 
sured it  was  no  illusion,  a  positive  fact,  the 
tears  trickled  down  his  cheeks,  as  he  stammered, 
in  broken  English — 

"  Banks,  gendlemans,  danks." 

It  was  now  several  years  since  John  had 
mounted  a  horse,  so,  making  arrangements  with 
Mr.  Mikly  for  the  loan  of  one,  he  went  into 
training,  to  make  himself  master  of  the  situation, 
and  show  the  people  that  their  choice  had  not 
fallen  on  an  unworthy  one. 

We  have  not  inquired  whether  the  people 
took  any  notice  of  him  during  the  day,  but 
John  was  satisfied  that  he  had  done  his  duty — 
that  he,  too,  was  one  of  America's  honored  sons. 

Just  as  the  candidates  entered  he  brought  his 
fist  down  heavily  on  the  counter,  and  said  to  the 
barkeeper — 

"Jhake,  waide  on  de  gendlemans,  whatever 
dey  call  for;  dey  shall  trink  one  mit  John  Luz, 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  127 

if  he  ish  poor.  Den  I  dell  you  der  is  no  such 
coundry  as  America,"  and  spying  the  candidates, 
he  added — 

"  Make  room,  gendlemans,  here  comes  our 
candidates,  de  best  dicket  de  bardy  ever  put  up. 
Unt  you,  too,  must  trink  a  glass  mit  me." 

Of  course,  round  after  round  followed,  and 
temperance  men,  abolitionists  and  negroes  met 
with  their  usual  portion  of  abuse.  They  all 
would  bring  the  country  to  the  dogs.  If  they 
only  could  they'd  have  the  foreigners  stay  here 
twenty-one  years  before  they  could  vote,  and 
vote  the  negro  as  soon  as  he  is  born.  They  are 
no  friends  to  the  foreigners,  they  are  their  ene- 
mies, and  every  one  of  them  that  votes  their 
ticket  cuts  his  own  throat. 

"  Dat's  what  I  say,"  interrupted  the  proprie- 
tor. "Dey  never  would  have  tone  what  dis 
here  bardy  has  tone  fur  me.  What  was  I  in 
Ghermany,  eh?  Nodings  put  a  poor  linen 
weaver,  yet  dey  mate  me  a  marshal.  Mein 
Gott!  if  I  writes  dat  to  Ghermany,  dey  wont 
pelieve  it,  unt  I  hartly  can  pelieve  it  mein  self." 
Again  refreshments  were  handed,  and  after  sev- 
eral rounds  more  were  disposed  of,  the  candi- 
dates excused  themselves,  saying  they  promised 


128  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

to  call  on  Pete  McCarthy  and  several  other 
places,  and  took  their  leave,  amid  a  rousing 
hurrah. 

The  day  had  drawn  to  a  close,  and  in  most 
houses  the  lamps  were  lighted.  But  with  a 
clear  sky  and  the  moon  at  its  full,  it  would  have 
been  unnecessary  to  light  the  street  lamps,  if 
such  they  had  at  Hawksville,  or  to  illuminate 
Mikly's  Grove,  in  which,  aside  from  the  already 
manifold  attractions,  a  free  concert  was  to  be 
given  by  the  band,  which  was  engaged  by  Ar- 
thur Gurney  for  that  purpose,  for  the  benefit  of 
the  people  of  the  village ;  to  which,  for  fear  of 
not  getting  seated,  the  crowd  began  to  gather. 

Most  of  the  business  houses  had  closed,  to 
give  their  employees  as  well  as  themselves  an 
opportunity  to  attend,  and  had  it  not  been  for 
cursing,  swearing,  drinking,  and  carousing  at 
the  saloon,  and  an  occasional  barking  of  a  dog, 
the  place  could  have  been  rightly  called  the  vil- 
lage of  the  dead. 

A  quarrel  had  already  arose  at  Pete  McCar- 
thy's when  the  two  candidates  entered,  but  the 
fame  of  Mike  O'Brien  as  a  fighter,  and  the  call 
for  a  bottle,  was  all  that  was  necessary  to  restore 
quiet.  And  while  Mr.  Welch  entertained  the 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  129 

company,  Mr.  O'Brien  had  to  follow  the  propri- 
etor, to  make,  as  he  said,  his  distinguished  coun- 
tryman acquainted  with  his  wife.  But  scarcely 
were  the  formalities  over  when  Pete  commenced 
talking  business.  Said  he — 

"Mr.  O'Brien,  it's  going  to  be  pretty  hard 
pulling,  but  I  can  make  you  lots  of  votes.  There 
is  a  lot  of  fellows  laying  around  here,  doing 
nothing,  and  they  vote  any  way  I  want  them  to. 
Mr.  Lafferty,  the  street  commissioner  of  your 
city,  is  a  friend  of  mine.  He  said,  the  other  day, 
that  the  party  could  make  away  with  three  or 
four  hundred  votes  very  easily.  I  asked  him 
how.  He  said  just  send  them,  a  few  weeks  be- 
fore the  election,  to  the  city,  either  to  me  or  to 
Mr.  O'Brien,  Morgan,  or  Nick  Putzel,  and  we 
will  take  care  of  them,  and  after  we  have  voted 
them  we  can  send  them  back,  and  you  can  vote 
them  here.  That  I  think  a  first-rate  plan.  Of 
.course  it  costs  a  little  money,  but  I'll  not  charge 
you  more  than  just  my  outlay.  I  shall  try  to 
get  an  office  myself,  and  expect  when  I  help 
you,  you'll  assist  me.  You  see  I  was  for  some 
years  overseer,  in  the  old  country,  at  Lord  Strat- 
ton's,  and  I  know  all  about  farm  life,  horses, 
cattle,  sheep,  and  hogs,  and  know  just  how  to 


130  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

get  work  out  of  a  fellow.  I  thought  there  was 
no  man  more  suitable  to  superintend  the  county 
poor-farm  than  I  am.  Pat  Ryan,  my  nephew, 
who  has  done  nothing  but  ditching  in  his  life, 
would  like  to  be  sexton  at  the  cemetery.  It's 
our  countrymen,  mostly,  that  makes  the  party, 
and  we  ought  to  have  the  offices.  I  expect  a 
cousin  in  a  few  days  from  Ireland,  and  I  wish 
you'd  see  some  of  your  Councilmen  to  get  him 
on  the  police  force.  There  is  nothing  to  hinder 
us  from  being  successful  if  we  manage  the  thing 
right,  and  I  shall  not  be  wanting  in  doing  my 
part." 

Both  men  pledged  themselves  to  assist  each 
other,  and  went  back  to  the  saloon,  where  a 
parting  round  was  drunk,  to  the  success  of  the 
ticket. 

Several  other  places  were  visited,  when  they 
wended  their  way  to  the  Walhalla,  before  taking 
a  final  leave  of  the  village  and  its  inhabitants. 

"  Oh,  I  dought  you  hat  forgot  me,"  said  Hans, 
shaking  hands  with  the  new  comers,  "  put  it  ish 
petter  late  dan  never,  so  you  shust  cum  up  unt 
dake  von  mit  me,  den  your  coming  here  has 
mate  dis  de  pest  and  purtiest  tay  in  Hawks- 
ville." 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  131 

So,  drink  they  did,  but  not  at  the  expense  of 
the  proprietor,  as  Mike  O'Brien  put  a  ten-dollar 
bill  on  the  counter,  with  the  remark  that  that 
had  to  be  used  first,  before  he  could  drink  with 
the  proprietor,  who  he  hoped  would  not  take 
the  offer  as  an  insult,  which  was  not  intended  ; 
that  was  to  be  used  for  "  the  success  of  the 
ticket." 

And  again,  to  the  success  of  the  ticket  the 
glasses  were  filled  and  emptied. 

"Gendlemens,"  said  the  proprietor,  "we  are 
going  to  elect  you  mit  a  pig  majority,  unt  I  hope 
when  you  get  into  der  office  you  ain't  going  to 
forget  your  friends,  unt  help  dem  to  a  little 
sometings  too.  You  see  I  have  pin  educated 
in  Shermany ;  I  shtudied  a  long  dime ;  I  went 
through  all  dem  pig  schools — oh,  a  good  deal 
pigger  dan  dem  schools  here — unt  I've  shtudied 
how  to  pleed,  unt  to  cup,  unt  to  put  leeches  on, 
unt  I  shaved  many  a  one  who  hat  peen  killed 
py  drounding  demselves,  or  shoot  demselves 
mit  a  pistol  der  brains  out,  unt  some  of  dem  dat 
hat  cut  mit  de  butcher  knife  der  trote.  Unt  I 
know  all  apout  der  post-mortem  examinations 
when  dey  cum  mit  de  dead.  Yes,  I  know  more 
apout  dese  dings  dan  any  one  you  got  in  your 


132  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

city,  unt  I  dinks  next  fall  of  running-  for  Coroner, 
mein  self,  unt  if  I  do  all  I  can  for  you,  of  course 
you  must  do  all  you  can  for  me." 

The  promise  was  given  and  repeated  under 
a  lengthy  hand-shaking,  and  a  call  for  the  bottle 
by  Mr.  Welch. 

By  this  time  a  messenger  arrived  from  Mr. 
Gurney,  who  stated  that  that  gentleman,  with  the 
band,  were  in  waiting  to  take  their  departure. 
Hans  Mauser,  the  proprietor  of  the  Walhalla 
Saloon  was  permitted  to  treat  the  company, 
when,  after  three  rousing  cheers,  they  left,  ac- 
companied by  some  friends  to  their  place  of 
rendezvous,  where  quite  a  number  of  both  sexes 
had  gathered  to  bid  their  distinguished  visitors 
farewell. 

All  were  ready  to  start,  the  signal  was  given, 
the  band  struck  up  "  I'm  mighty  glad  to  get  out 
of  the  wilderness,"  the  guests  lifted  their  hats, 
ladies  and  gentlemen  waved  their  handkerchiefs, 
and  the  day  of  the  great  barbecue  was  closed. 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  133 


CHAPTER  IX. 

The  sun  had  made  its  appearance  in  the  east- 
ern horizon,  the  birds  had  finished  their  morning 
concert,  but  as  yet  scarcely  a  sign  of  life  was 
visible  in  the  village  of  Hawksville. 

What  could  be  the  matter !  Was  it  because 
the  shrill  whistle  of  the  steam  flouring-mill  had 
forgotten  to  sound  the  hour  of  the  day,  as  was 
its  wont  to  do,  or  was  the  village  deserted  ? 

Most  assuredly  not  the  latter,  for  here  comes 
Judge  Burton,  wending  his  way  to  the  butcher- 
shop.  The  fact  was,  the  people  were  taking  a 
rest,  after  the  work  they  had  been  engaged  in 
on  the  day  previous — the  day  of  the  great  bar- 
becue. 

It  seemed  as  if  the  appearance  of  the  Judge 
acted  as  a  signal,  for  one  by  one  the  stores  and 
shops  were  opened,  and  clerks  and  shopkeepers 
were  soon  found  busily  engaged,  sweeping  and 
dusting,  and  preparing  for  the  day.  The  issuing 
of  smoke  from  chimneys,  which  now  was  per- 
ceptible, proved  that  busy  life  had  commenced 
in  dwellings,  and  the  hurrying  to  the  butcher- 


134  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

shop  was  a  sure  sign  that  preparations  for 
breakfast  were  in  progress.  But  as  yet  no  sa- 
loon was  opened,  which  was  very  unusual  in- 
deed, as  they  were  nearly  always  the  first  ready 
for  business.  But  they  had  done  a  rousing  busi- 
ness the  night  before,  needed  rest,  and  could 
well  afford  to  do  so,  even  at  the  expense  of 
some  of  their  customers  suffering  for  the  want 
of  their  morning  bitters. 

There  is,  perhaps,  no  better  paying  institution 
in  a  village  than  a  high-toned  saloon,  close  to  a 
good  butcher-shop,  especially  where  civilization 
wages  war  against  barbarism,  churches  and  tem- 
perance war  against  saloons,  and  society  black- 
balls all  who  are  known  to  use  stimulants 
except  for  medical  purposes.  Yet  the  article  is 
manufactured,  it's  in  the  market  for  sale,  and,  of 
course,  finds  its  consumers.  So,  occasionally, 
the  deacon  gets  troubled  with  the  toothache,  the 
judge  with  the  colic, -the  squire  with  cramps,  and 
often  the  colonel  is  troubled  with  indigestion. 
To  quote  their  own  words,  they  have  tried  every- 
thing, all  remedies  known  for  such  diseases,  but 
never  found  anything  yet  that  acted  as  promptly 
and  as  satisfactorily  as  whisky  or  brandy.  They 
get  it  in  the  drug  stores,  not  adulterated,  genu- 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  135 

ine  article,  but  outrageously  high-priced.  Get 
it  just  as  good  in  a  saloon,  and  a  great  deal 
cheaper;  but  people,  especially  women,  are  down 
on  saloons,  and  so  they  have  to  go  to  drug  stores 
and  pay  high  prices,  or  use  all  precautions  in 
getting  it  from  saloons,  so  as  not  to  lose  reputa- 
tion and  character,  or  give  offence  to  society. 

"  My  dear,"  says  the  deacon  to  his  better  half, 
after  the  clock  strikes  four,  "  I  believe  I'd  better 
get  up  and  go  to  the  butcher-shop ;  I  saw  the 
butcher  bring  in  such  a  nice  beef  last  evening, 
and  when  a  person  is  a  little  late  the  best  steaks 
are  always  gone." 

"  Do,  dear,"  he  receives,  in  response,  "  for 
there  is  nothing  I  detest  more  than  tough  steak." 

And  so  he  gets  up,  dresses,  takes  his  basket, 
and  starts  for  the  butcher-shop.  But  the  chill 
air  of  the  morning  brings  on  his  old  complaint, 
and,  of  course,  who  wants  to  suffer  when  relief 
is  near,  and  in  he  hurries,  not  to  the  butcher- 
shop,  but  to  the  saloon,  which  the  proprietor, 
well  acquainted  with  these  complaints,  always 
opens  at  the  first  sound  of  the  saw  and  cleaver. 
Early  as  it  was,  he  is  not  the  first  one.  The 
Judge,  the  Colonel,  and  several  others  had 
preceded  him,  all  sufferers  like  himself,  all  seek- 


136  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

ing  relief.  One  dose  sometimes  has  not  the 
desired  effect,  and  very  often,  as  the  deacon 
says,  especially  in  his  advanced  years,  the  attack 
repeats  itself;  so,  not  to  be  caught  unawares,  he 
thinks  it  best  to  carry  a  little  of  the  remedy  con- 
stantly with  him,  which  the  others  think  a  very 
wise  plan,  one  well  worth  trying.  But  the  dis- 
ease has  become  chronic,  and  while  it  relieves 
for  the  time  being,  it  never  effects  a  permanent 
cure;  so  the  remedy  is  repeated  at  every  attack, 
which  is  more  or  less  every  day,  and  which  never 
fails  manifesting  itself  at  an  early  morning 
hour. 

"  Nothing  like  being  up  early,  my  dear ;  if  I'd 
been  a  little  later  I'd  a  missed  it.  The  Squire 
and  Colonel  came  in  just  after  I  did,  but  I  had 
the  choice  and  the  joke  on  them." 

"  Have  you  started  the  fire  ?"  says  the  wife, 
when  the  good  deacon  ceased,  "and  put  the 
kettle  on.  I  smell  coffee  ?" 

"  No,  dear,"  is  the  reply,  "  but  I  took  out  a  few 
grains,  for  the  coffee  didn't  taste  right  to  me, 
yesterday,  and  I  thought  perhaps  the  girl  burnt 
it  in  roasting.  But  I  guess  I  was  mistaken. 
I'll  start  a  fire  and  lie  down  until  breakfast  is 
ready." 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  137 

Such  or  similar  conversations  could  be  heard 
in  many  sleeping  apartments,  were  our  readers 
permitted  to  listen. 

Judge  Burton  must  have  suffered  severely 
this  morning.  He  looked  wistfully  at  the  closed 
doors  of  the  Walhalla,  and  a  deep  sigh  escaped 
him  when  he  entered  the  butcher-shop  and 
wished  the  proprietor  good  morning. 

"You're  rather  late;  Hans  must  have 
taken  morphine  or  laudanum,  which  has  pre- 
vented him  from  hearing  your  saw  and  cleaver, 
which  always  acts  as  a  signal  for  his  opening. 
But  I  guess  the  poor  fellow  needs  rest  after  sudi 
work  as  they  had  yesterday  and  last  night.  Yet 
I  think  they  got  well  paid  for  it,  and  had  a  good 
harvest.  But  I  wish  the  fellow  would  open,  I 
never  felt  worse  in  my  life.  I  exercised  too 
much  yesterday,  got  overheated,  overworked, 
and  it  always  is  very  injurious  to  my  nervous 
system.  Takes  me  a  whole  week  to  get  right 
again  ;  find  a  little  whisky  or  brandy  to  be  the 
best  remedy,  and  Hans  always  keeps  a  pure  ar- 
ticle. But — " 

"  Hallo,  Colonel,  I  didn't  notice  you  coming 
in.  Rather  late  this  morning ;  people  all  seem 
to  be  taking  a  rest — " 


138  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

"  Yes,  and  I  would  be  resting  yet,"  interrupted 
the  Colonel,  "  but  for  this  old  complaint  of  mine; 
it  won't  let  me  rest,  so  I  thought  I'd  get  up,  walk 
down  here,  get  a  little  steak,  slip  in  to  Hans's, 
and  get  me  a  little  Bourbon,  which  seems  to  be 
the  only  thing?  that  gives  me  relief.  But  the  fel- 
low is  rather  late,  and  had  not  opened  as  I 
passed  by.  Oh,  dear,  how  I  suffer !" 

The  Judge,  who  had  stepped  to  the  door,  no 
doubt  to  see  if  Hans  had  yet  made  his  appear- 
ance, cut  short  the  Colonel's  further  remarks,  by 
announcing — "We  don't  need  to  suffer  any 
longer,  Hans  has  opened." 

The  two  sufferers  left  the  butcher-shop  and 
stepped  into  the  Walhalla,  where  Hans  was  just 
in  the  act  of  taking  his  morning*  bitters  when 
they  entered. 

"  Mein  Gott,  you  are  jhust  in  dime ;  I  never 
likes  to  trink  by  mein  self;  so  hant  out  dwo 
glasses  unt  de  pottle  mit  de  Bourbon,  for  de 
Colonel,  unt  de  odder  mit  de  olt  rye  whisky,  for 
de  Judge,  unt  we  will  take  de  trink  at  my  ex- 
pense. Unt,  by  George,  here  conies  Mr.  Mikly, 
unt  he  shall  take  von  mit  us  too." 

"  Good  morning,  gentlemen,"  said  the  new 
comer,  as  he  advanced  and  shook  hands. 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  139 

"I  feel  rather  worn  this  morning,  after  so 
much  exercise;  thought  to  take  a  little  something 
to  buoy  up,  but  do  not  like  to  drink  at  other's 
expense." 

"  You  neber  mind  dat,  Mr.  Mikly,"  interrupted 
the  proprietor.  "  It  would  pe  nice  if  Hans 
Mouser  couldn't  dreat  his  friends  after  such  a 
day  as  we  hat  yesterday.  I  pelieve  it  was  de 
piggest  I  ever  saw  in  America.  Mein  Gott,  I 
do  not  know  where  all  der  beople  dat  vas  here, 
cums  vrom.  Unt  mein  saloon  vas  full,  vrom  de 
morning  till  long  way  after  de  mitnight.  I  neber 
saw  so  much  whisky  unt  peer  trunk  while  I'm 
in  Hawksville.  I  dink  de  bardy  never  put  up 
better  candidates.  Dey  shook  hands  mit  every- 
poty,  unt  never  tought  demselves  a  bit  petter 
dan  anypoty  else.  Dey  haf  mate  lots  of  friends, 
unt  will  pe  elected  mit  lots  of  votes.  Put,  gen: 
dlemans,  here's  luck." 

And  the  remedies  for  the  different  ailments 
were  speedily  despatched. 

"  Yes,  gentlemen,  I  think  our  barbecue  was  a 
grand  success,"  said  the  Colonel,  setting  down 
his  glass,  and  taking  a  few  fennel-seed,  which 
Hans  always  had  on  hand,  "and  brought  a 
good  deal  of  money  to  Hawksville.  We  were 


140  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

fortunate  in  having  such  a  nice  day,  which  made 
people  turn  out  in  great  numbers,  and  I  believe 
all  went  home  very  well  satisfied." 

"  Yes,"  interrupted  the  Judge,  "  and  I  can  say 
I'm  well  pleased  with  our  ticket,  too.  I  thought, 
for  a  while,  the  party  made  a  bad  selection  when 
they  nominated  such  a  young  man  as  Mr.  Gur- 
ney,  but  since  I  have  made  his  acquaintance,  and 
heard  him  speak,  I  have  changed  my  mind,  and 
think  the  choice  of  the  party  could  not  have 
fallen  on  a  more  suitable  person.  He  is  tho- 
roughly versed  in  every  point  of  law,  an  orator 
not  to  be  excelled,  is  as  free  and  liberal-hearted 
as  any  one  I  ever  met.  The  others,  too,  I  think, 
are  just  the  men  for  their  position." 

"Oh,  I  think  we  will  have  no  difficulty  in 
electing  our  ticket,"  said  Mr.  Mikly ;  "  the  people 
are  opening  their  eyes,  and  are  beginning  to  see 
who  their  friends  are,  and  who  work  for  their 
interest.  I  profess  to  be  a  Christian,  and  do  not 
like  to  see  people  make  brutes  of  themselves, 
by  drinking  too  much,  but  if  they  will  do  it,  we 
cannot  prevent  it.  This  is  a  free  government, 
and  everybody  has  a  right  to  eat  and  drink  what 
they  please.  And,  after  all,  if  it  was  not  for 
those  big  distilleries  and  breweries,  farmers 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  141 

would  have  to  feed  the  corn  and  barley  they  raise 
to  the  hogs ;  they  couldn't  make  enough  to  pay 
their  taxes;  and  business  men  could  just  shut 
up.  Only  see  the  difference.  When  Walker 
spoke,  there  was  nobody  there,  only  a  few  abo- 
litionists and  temperance  men.  Not  a  particle 
of  amusement  for  the  young  folks ;  nothing  but 
long,  dry  faces  coming,  and  long,  dry  faces 
going.  Young  people  and  showmen  know  this, 
and  they  will  not  turn  out.  I  did  not  take  in  a 
cent,  then,  but  yesterday  it  paid  me  very  wety 
and  I  think  it  paid  every  business  man  in  the 
village.  No,  no,  it  won't  do  to  carry  piety  to 
such  an  extent  as  to  shun  all  amusement  and 
pleasure.  You  see,  I'm  a  firm  believer  in  the 
Bible,  and  Solomon  says  everything  has  its  time, 
and  I  think  so,  too.  There  is  a  time  when  peo- 
ple ought  to  pray,  a  time  when  they  ought  to 
work,  and  a  time  when  they  ought  to  amuse 
themselves.  Laws,  when  I  think  back  at  the  fun 
we  had  at  our  horse-racing,  shooting-matches, 
house-raisings,  and  log-rollings,  I  can  pity  our 
youngsters,  who  have  to  work  year  in  and  year 
out,  with  scarcely  an  hour  of  pleasure,  just  to 
keep  themselves  in  clothing,  scarcely  a  cent  left 
for  a  drink  of  whisky.  Well,  as  I  said  long  ago, 


142  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

they  just  freed  the  negro  to  enslave  the  whites, 
and  they  are  making  very  good  progress.  Fix 
up  schools  for  the  negro,  and  make  the  whites 
pay  for  it ;  hire  the  negro  to  work  for  them,  and 
let  the  white  man  go  begging.  That  is  not  all ; 
they  monopolize  all  branches  of  business.  You 
see,  a  while  back  I  did  a  nice  business  in  pork- 
packing  ;  hogs  didn't  cost  me  much,  and  yet  it 
paid  those  fellows  who  brought  them  to  me,  very 
well.  This  is  all  changed.  They  have,  with 
their  machinery,  got  so  that  they  can  pay  for 
live  hogs  nearly  as  much  as  they  sell  cured 
meats  for.  I  don't  know  how  they  can,  but  they 
do  it,  and  that  has  ruined  my  business  entirely. 
I  also  could  make  a  penny  or  so  by  a  loan,  but 
now  comes  these  big  capitalists,  and  scatters  the 
money  everywhere,  for  a  good  deal  less  than  I 
can  afford  to  handle  it.  I  made,  for  a  while,  a 
nice  thing  out  of  my  saw-mill.  Before  they  had 
these  railroads  running  in  every  direction,  I 
could  set  my  own  price  on  my  lumber;  but  now 
they  send  ready-made  doors,  window-sash, 
dressed  flooring,  and  everything  else,  all  over 
the  country,  and  sell  it  for  less  than  I  could  get 
for  my  rough  boards.  The  trade  in  hides  paid 
me  very  well,  too ;  there  were  no  butcher-shops, 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  143 

then,  and  nearly  every  farmer  killed  a  cow  or 
yearling;  as  there  were  no  other  buyers  but 
myself,  I  could  have  it  at  my  own  price.  A  jug 
of  whisky,  or  a  pound  of  powder  or  lead,  was 
all  I  ever  paid  for  one,  and  they  were  very  well 
satisfied;  but  now  they  have  started  big  tan- 
neries everywhere,  have  their  agents  traveling 
all  over  the  country,  who  pay  more  for  the  raw 
hides  than  we  used  to  pay  for  them  already 
tanned." 

"  It's  just  so  with  our  business,"  said  the  Judge, 
after  the  speaker  paused.  "When  I  commenced 
practicing  law  here,  and  when  I  first  entered 
into  official  business,  I  could  find  scarcely  a 
leisure  hour,  and  my  office  was  nearly  always 
crowded.  Some  one  wanted  a  deed  written, 
another  one  a  title  bond,  perhaps  the  third  one 
a  promissory  note,  and  hundreds  of  other  little 
things.  It's  true,  I  charged  but  a  trifle,  but  it 
amounted  to  considerable  during  the  year. 
But  since  we  are  blessed  with  '  fine '  school- 
houses,  and  high-salaried  teachers,  and  parents 
have  got  it  into  their  heads  that  it  is  a  disgrace 
for  their  children  to  work ;  that  their  daughters 
must  make  school-marms,  and  their  sons  be 
lawyers  or  doctors,  the  whole  thing  is  changed. 


144  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

They  do  their  own  writing,  and  leave  us  to  get 
along  the  best  way  we  can.  There  were  but 
very  few  lawsuits  then,  because  people  were 
more  honest  and  could  trust  each  other;  but  we 
did  a  lively  business  in  cases  of  assault  and  bat- 
tery, disturbing  the  peace,  and  other  little  minor 
offences.  When  a  difficulty  arose  between  par- 
ties, they  generally  settled  it  with  the  fist.  Of 
course,  as  guardians  of  the  law  we  were  bound 
to  arrest  them,  and  although  we  very  seldom 
fined  them  over  a  cent,  only  to  show  that  the 
law  had  to  be  respected,  the  amount  we  received 
in  costs  could  be  considered  a  right  nice  reve- 
nue. But  in  this,  too,  there  is  considerable  fall- 
ing off,  and  if  it  were  not  for  the  saloons,  the 
business  in  that  line  wouldn't  amount  to  any- 
thing at  all.  People  may  say  what  they  please 
about  saloons ;  they  have  brought  me  a  consider- 
able amount  of  business,  and  I  think  if  they 
were  looked  at  without  prejudice,  they  would 
soon  find  they  are  a  grea"t  help  to  a  town.  I 
tell  you,  a  change  is  all  that  can  save  us  from 
ruin." 

"  And  we'll  have  it,"  said  the  Colonel,  after 
the  other  had  ceased  speaking,  "  even  if  we  have 
to  fight  for  it.  I  have  been  all  through  one  war, 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  145 

and  I  can  stand  another  one,  and  there  is  a  good 
many  more  like  myself.  I  saw  that  spirit  mani- 
fest itself  yesterday,  when  the  boys  went  after 
that  negro.  I  believe  if  it  hadn't  been  for  me 
they  would  have  beaten  him  to  death." 

"What  was  the  fracas  about?"  interrupted 
Mr.  Mikly. 

"  Well,  from  what  I  heard  the  boys  say,  it  was 
about  this :  he  passed  by  McCarthy's  saloon,  in 
front  of  which  a  lot  of  Irish  were  gathered,  and 
I  believe  one  of  them  gave  him  a  kick,  and  told 
him  to  leave,  in  a  hurry.  He  stopped  and  re- 
monstrated, when  several  pitched  on  him,  but 
he  was  too  much  for  them,  and,  I  was  told, 
knocked  fully  half  a  dozen  on  the  ground.  This, 
of  course,  raised  the  blood  of  all  of  them.  He 
was  overpowered,  and  came  very  near  being 
killed.  I  was,  as  you  know,  appointed  assistant 
marshal,  and  when  informed,  hurried,  with  seve- 
ral others,  to  restore  peace,  and  took  him  and 
about  half  a  dozen  others  to  the  calaboose." 

"  Were  there  any  more  fights  ?"  inquired  Mr. 
Mikly. 

"  Not  as  many  as  I  expected.  Not,  altogether, 
over  half  a  dozen,  and  I  think  we  did  not  make 
over  twenty  or  twenty-five  arrests." 


146  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

"Oh,"  laughed  Mr.  Mikly,  "you  and  the 
Judge  get  your  pay  to-day  for  yesterday's  work. 
Just  put  it  on  to  those  fellows ;  they  spend  their 
money,  anyhow,  and  you  might  as  well  have  it 
as  anybody  else."  So  saying,  Mr.  Mikly,  who 
had  as  yet  not  been  to  the  butcher's  shop,  bade 
his  friends  good  morning. 

Another  attack  of  the  Colonel's  complaint 
called  for  the  bottle  again,  and  while  pouring 
out  the  remedy,  he  remarked — 

"  By-the-by,  Judge,  what  time  do  you  think 
of  opening  court  ?" 

To  which  that  dignitary  replied :  "  About  ten 
o'clock." 

Both  then  took  their  departure,  in  different 
directions,  for  their  homes. 

Judge  Burton  was,  with  the  exception  of  Mr. 
Mikly  and  a  few  others,  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
tlers in  Hawksville.  His  first  occupation  was 
that  of  a  clerk  in  a  dry  goods  store.  He  took 
a  great  fancy  for  the  study  of  law,  and  spent 
most  of  his  small  salary  in  the  purchase  of  law 
books,  to  make  himself  master  of  that  profes- 
sion, and  when  confident  of  doing  justice  to  his 
clients,  and  prepared  with  a  license  to  do  so,  he 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  147 

opened  a  law  office  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  people. 

The  people  in  those  days  were  lacking  in  edu- 
cation. Scarcely  one  in  the  surrounding  country 
could  read  or  write,  and  Mr.  Burton  was  just 
the  man  they  needed  to  attend  to  their  business. 
He  was  thronged  every  day,  and  was  looked 
upon  as  indispensable.  He  also  could  be  con- 
sidered Mr.  Mikly's  right  hand,  having  taught 
him,  with  the  greatest  difficulty,  to  read  and 
write  his  name.  He  kept  his  books,  and  added 
greatly  to  the  prosperity  of  that  gentleman.  But 
in  proportion  as  civilization  and  education  ad- 
vanced Mr.  Burton's  business  declined,  and 
at  present,  as  he  said  before,  if  it  were  not  for 
the  saloons,  it  would  be  worth  nothing  at  all. 
His  title  was  only  an  empty  one,  and  no  doubt 
acquired  by  being  a  standing  candidate  for  that 
office.  He  served  for  a  number  of  years  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  and  when  the  town  of  Hawks- 
ville  was  incorporated,  was  elected  as  police 
magistrate,  which  office  he  held  up  to  this  day. 
He  was  a  widower,  living  with  one  of  his 
children,  who  were  all  married,  but  he  had  the 
reputation  of  being  admired  by  the  fair  sex,  and 

a  cartoon,  in  which  he  tries  to  extricate  himself 
10 


148  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

from  half  a  dozen  children,  who  are  hanging"  to 
his  coat  tail,  and  looking  up  wistfully  at  the  hor- 
ror-stricken man,  saying — "  Papa,  we'll  kiss  you 
if  you'll  buy  us  some  candy !"  brought  his  down- 
fall in  the  last  Convention.  Yet,  in  all  reverses, 
the  Judge  held  on  to  the  party,  waiting  for  a  bet- 
ter time  coming,  and  attended  promptly  to  his 
business.  So,  when  the  clock  struck  ten,  we 
find  him  at  his  office,  declaring  that  Court  had 
opened,  ready  to  administer  justice.  The  Col- 
onel was  in  waiting,  and  it  was  not  long  ere  the 
first  culprit  was  brought  into  the  presence  of 
the  Court. 

It  was  a  fair  specimen  of  those  seen  in  police 
courts  of  larger  cities.  Poorly  clad,  with  swollen 
eyes,  trembling  hands,  in  short,  with  all  the  un- 
mistakable signs  of  a  drunken  debauchee. 

"You  are  charged  with  disorderly  conduct: 
answer  the  Court,  are  you  guilty  or  not  guilty  ?" 

"  Guilty,  your  Honor,"  said  the  wretch,  "  but 
you  see  it  was  a  public  day,  and  the  whisky  had 
a  good  deal  to  do  with  it ;  so,  if  your  Honor  will 
let  me  off  this  time,  I  promise  that  it  never  shall 
happen  again." 

"  We  are  here  to  dispense  justice,"  was  the 
reply  from  the  Court ;  "  but  as  this  is  your  first 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  149 

offence,  and  committed  in  an  exciting  time,  the 
Court  will  be  lenient  with  you,  and  will  fine  you 
only  one  cent  and  costs." 

"  Bring  the  next,  Colonel." 

Case  after  case  was  disposed  of,  in  quick  suc- 
cession, mostly  of  a  similar  character.  When 
the  last  case  was  called,  the  Colonel  ap- 
peared with  a  stout,  well-built  mulatto,  appa- 
rently in  the  prime  of  life,  and  no  doubt  intelli- 
gent, to  judge  from  what  was  recognizable  of 
his  features,  for  his  face  was  swollen  to  double 
its  size,  his  eyes  nearly  closed,  and  his  flesh  cut 
and  bruised. 

"  You  are  charged  with  assault  and  battery  ; 
do  you  plead  guilty  or  not  guilty  ?" 

"  Not  guilty,  your  Honor ;  you  know  me  for 
years,  and  so  do  the  citizens  of  Hawksville,  and 
I  think  no  one  can  say  I  seek  to  quarrel  with 
any  one.  I  was  walking  along  peacefully,  last 
evening,  and  when  passing  McCarthy's  saloon 
was  attacked  by  a  crowd  of  ruffians,  and  in  self- 
defence  knocked  down  'a  few,  when  the  whole 
gang  fell  upon  me  and  nearly  killed  me,  without 
the  slightest  provocation  or  cause.  This  is  all 
I  have  to  say." 

The  Colonel  was  called  as  a  witness,  and  took 


150  KICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

the  stand,  stating  what  we  are  already  ac- 
quainted with. 

The  Court,  after  hearing  the  testimony,  de- 
cided that  the  accused  had  no  right  to  take  the 
law  in  his  own  hands,  but  should  have  left  it  to 
those  in  authority,  and  therefore  he  must  pay  a 
fine  of  five  dollars  and  costs. 

All  the  cases  having  been  disposed  of,  the 
Court  adjourned,  and  the  Judge  and  the  Colo- 
nel, having  forebodings  of  another  attack  of 
their  complaint,  hastened  to  get  relief,  saying, 
"  this  picnic  was  a  great  success." 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  151 


CHAPTER  X. 

Mr.  Walker  was  busy  in  his  office,  preparing 
his  papers  for  Court.  He  had  no  partner  or 
assistant,  and,  having  a  reputation  as  one  of 
the  foremost  criminal  lawyers  in  the  country, 
his  counsel  was  sought  by  the  prosecution  as 
well  as  the  defence.  A  knock  at  the  door  called 
his  attention.  He  opened  it,  and  a  gentleman, 
saluting  him,  stepped  in.  "Take  a  chair,  Mr. 
Rogers,  take  a  chair.  You  are  the  last  man  I 
expected  to  see  this  morning  at  my  office,  and 
if  I  had  not  known  you  for  years  as  a  church 
member  and  a  Christian,  I  would  judge  from 
your  looks  that  you  had  committed  a  trespass 
on  our  laws,  and  wished  to  engage  my  service 
to  see  you  safely  through."  This  was  said  in  a 
joking  manner  by  Mr.  Walker,  but  Mr.  Rogers, 
in  an  earnest  tone,  replied — 

"It  is  not  exactly  that  I  have  committed  a 
trespass,  and  yet,  after  all,  it  is  a  trespass  against 
the  law  that  brought  me  here,  and  for  which  I 
wish  to  engage  your  counsel." 

"  Indeed !     I  am  anxious  to  hear  what  that 


152  NICK   PUTZEL  ;    OR 

can  be;  hope  nothing  very  serious,"  said  Mr. 
Walker. 

"  Serious  enough  to  me  and  my  family,  for  it 
affects  one  of  the  members,  and,  consequently, 
all  of  us." 

"Please  explain,"  said  Mr.  Walker. 

"You  know  my  oldest  son,  James?  He  is 
now  past  nineteen,  and  has  been,  until  of  late, 
an  exceptionally  good  youth ;  always  obedient, 
industrious,  of  strict  temperate  habits,  diligent 
in  his  studies,  and  never  missed  church  nor 
Sunday-school.  His  mother  and  I  were  proud 
of  him,  and  we  had  great  expectations  for  his 
future.  I  noticed,  however,  a  change  of  late. 
For  some  time  I  paid  little  attention,  although 
his  mother  brought  it  to  my  notice  on  several 
occasions.  He  would  come  home  later  than 
usual  of  evenings,  and  when  asked  the  reason, 
would  seek  to  get  out  of  it  by  trifling  excuses. 
Several  times  I  noticed  his  speech  was  heavy 
and  thick,  as  if  he  had  been  drinking,  which  he, 
however,  when  asked,  would  sternly  deny.  Last 
night  revealed  the  whole  truth.  His  mother 
and  myself  were  waiting  anxiously  for  him  ;  we 
knew  something  was  wrong.  Hour  after  hour 
passed  by ;  the  clock  struck  the  hour  of  mid- 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  153 

night,  yet  no  sign  of  James.  I  was  just  in  the 
act  of  putting  on  my  boots,  to  start  out  and  no- 
tify the  police  to  search  for  his  whereabouts, 
when  I  heard  the  footsteps  of  several  approach- 
ing the  house.  My  heart  was  beating  heavily 
as  I  went  to  meet  them ;  and  there,  what  did  I 
see !  Two  men,  one  on  each  side,  leading  my 
boy,  thoroughly  intoxicated,  to  his  home.  We 
put  him  to  bed.  While  his  mother,  in  tears,  was 
bathing  his  face,  I  asked  the  men  where  they 
found  him.  They  said  he  was  lying  in  front  of 
the  Court-house  Exchange,  and  as  they  knew 
him  and  his  parents,  they  brought  him  home, 
rather  than  let  the  police  find  him  and  take  him 
to  the  station-house.  I  thanked  them  very 
kindly,  and  they  left.  But  there  was  no  sleep, 
no  rest,  for  me.  While  I  deliberated  how  to 
bring  those  violators  of  the  law  to  justice,  the 
poor  boy  lay  groaning  and  suffering,  and  his 
mother  moaning  and  weeping. 

"I  went  early  this  morning  to  the  Court- 
house Exchange,  said  to  be  the  most  notorious 
den  of  degradation  and  vice  in  our  city,  and  in- 
quired for  the  proprietor.  He  wasn't  up  yet. 
I  was  told  to  call  at  half-past  nine  or  ten  o'clock. 
The  time  seemed  to  me  very  long,  but  when  it 


154  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

came  I  was  on  hand.  I  told  him  my  boy  was 
found  lying  before  his  door,  intoxicated,  and  that 
I  had  reason  to  believe  he  got  his  drinks  in  his 
establishment,  and  that  if  he  sold  him  another 
drop  I  would  prosecute  him  to  the  extent  of  the 
law.  The  man,  more  the  shape  and  appearance 
of  a  brute  than  a  human,  said :  '  Prosecute  and 
pe  d — m.  You  petter  dends  to  your  pusiness, 
unt  I  dends  to  mine ;  unt  if  you  don't  pehave 
yourself,  I  has  you  daken  up  for  disturben  de 
bease.'  I  left,  and  came  straight  to  you ;  and 
now  you  know  all,  and  I  would  like  to  have  your 
advice." 

Mr.  Walker,  who  was  sitting  in  his  chair,  his 
elbow  resting  on  the  table  and  his  head  on  his 
hand,  had  listened  very  attentively,  and  it  was 
some  minutes  before  he  replied : — 

"  Well,  I  cannot  see  that  we  can  do  much  in 
this  matter.  You  have  no  positive  proof  that 
he  got  the  drinks  there,  and  if  you  had,  I  would 
not  advise  you  to  bring  it  to  court,  for  the  sake 
of  your  son." 

"  And  is  there  no  way  by  which  these  violators 
of  law,  these  destroyers  of  happiness  and  life, 
can  be  brought  to  justice  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes,  there  is ;   but  to   prove  that  they 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  155 

have  violated  the  law  is  the  question.  If  your 
son  should  be  called  upon  to  testify  where  he 
got  the  drinks  and  he  would  state,  under  oath, 
that  he  got  it  at  the  Court-house  Exchange,  they 
would  have  half  a  dozen  witnesses  ready  to  tes- 
tify that  he  came  in  drunk,  was  refused  drinks, 
and  ordered  to  leave  the  premises.  And,  even 
if  you  had  sufficient  proof,  I  would  not  advise 
you  to  take  action  in  this  matter." 

"  And  will  you  please  give  me  your  reasons," 
interrupted  Mr.  Rogers. 

"  Certainly,  certainly,"  Mr.  Walker  went  on. 
"You  say  your  son  is  nineteen  years  old.  He 
has,  as  you  stated,  a  liberal  education ;  is  ener- 
getic and  industrious.  Soon  he  will  be  his  own 
governor,  and  have  to  fight  the  battles  of  life 
with  his  own  weapons  ;  or,  in  other  words,  pad- 
dle his  own  canoe.  He  seeks  employment  by 
which  he  can  make  use  of  his  talent  and  educa- 
tion. Of  course,  satisfactory  reference,  as  to 
his  character  for  morality,  honesty,  and  sobriety, 
is  required.  Can  he  give  that,  after  having  once 
been  brought  before  a  court  of  justice,  to  testify 
to  his  own  degradation?  He  may  have  reformed, 
but  the  stain  is  still  there,  and  when  applying 
for  a  situation,  he  is  politely  informed  there  are 


156  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

no  vacancies.  Disappointed  everywhere,  he 
gets  discouraged.  He  has  tried  hard  to  make 
himself,  with  his  education,  useful — to  obtain, 
with  it,  an  honorable  living.  He  has  failed.  In 
despair,  he  throws  himself  in  the  arms  of  vice 
and  sin.  The  fact  is,"  continued  Mr.  Walker, 
"we  neglect,  to  a  great  extent,  the  moral  train- 
ing of  our  children.  We  send  them  to  school, 
buy  all  books  necessary  to  advance  them  in  their 
studies  ;  we  are  proud  of  their  scholarship,  and 
make  ourselves  believe  that  we  have  done  all 
in  our  power  to  prepare  them  for  the  contest  of 
life.  We  send  them  to  church  and  Sabbath- 
school,  to  be  instructed  in  the  faith  of  Chris- 
tianity; yet  their  own  home  is  icy  and  cold. 
Not  a  ray  of  love,  nor  a  sunbeam  of  kindness, 
penetrates  their  hearts.  The  father  commands, 
and  the  children  obey — not  through  love,  but 
through  fear.  To  spend,  every  day,  an  hour 
with  them,  for  the  purpose  of  cultivating  the 
mind,  or  training  the  heart  and  soul,  and  guid- 
ing them  to  the  paths  of  righteousness  and  vir- 
tue, is  not  thought  of.  And  by  neglect  of  this, 
and  with  the  advantage  of  an  education,  we  give 
them  a  weapon,  powerful,  but  often  disastrous 
to  them.  Make  home  cheerful ;  make  it  attrac- 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  157 

tive,  lovely  and  pleasant  for  your  children ;  min- 
gle with  them  in  their  innocent  play,  and  as  they 
advance,  and  their  minds  grow  stronger,  keep 
pace  with  them  in  your  work  of  moral  training, 
and  introduce,  besides  your  games  of  innocent 
amusement,  light  and  healthful  literature.  If  it 
form  the  centre  of  attraction,  they  will  not  seek 
enjoyment,  pleasure  or  amusement,  away  from 
home,  and  perhaps  be  led  astray ;  but  they  will 
circle  around  the  fireside,  and  amuse  and  in- 
struct each  other.  Let  us  do  this,  and  few  of 
our  children  will  go  astray,  because  we  have  laid 
a  true  foundation  for  their  future." 

The  speaker  paused,  and  after  a  few  moments, 
Mr.  Rogers,  who  had  been  listening  very  atten- 
tively to  every  word,  said — 

"  Mr.  Walker,  your  words  have  taught  me  a 
lesson  I  never  dreamed  of  before.  If  I  were  not 
positive  that  you  have  no  acquaintance  with  my 
family  affairs  I  should  come  to  the  belief  that 
you  had  singled  me  out  for  a  subject." 

"  Perhaps  nine-tenths  of  the  citizens  of  our 
county  could  say  the  same  thing,  if  approached 
on  the  subject,"  replied  Mr.  Walker.  "Nor  is 
this  all,"  he  continued:  "We  all  talk  about  the 
evil  of  intemperance — the  destruction  of  life  and 


158  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

happiness  by  whisky — yet  we  do  nothing  to  stop 
or  prevent  it.  On  the  contrary,  by  our  own  acts 
many  are  driven  into  the  jaws  of  the  monster. 
The  stranger  comes  to  our  city,  seeks  employ- 
ment, obtains  it,  and  next  looks  for  a  boarding- 
house;  he  finds  one,  perhaps,  with  a  bar  attached 
to  it.  But  no  sister,  no  brother,  no  friend,  is 
here  to  welcome  him  ;  he  is  alone.  Perhaps  he 
is  born  in  a  foreign  land,  unacquainted  with  our 
language,  unaccustomed  to  our  habits ;  or  he 
may  be  born  on  our  own  free  soil,  and  is  yet  a 
stranger  among  us — a  stranger  in  a  strange 
land.  One  familiar  sound,  however,  attracts 
his  attention.  It  is  the  church  bell,  inviting  him 
to  the  temple  of  worship — to  the  house  of  God. 
He  finds  it,  filled  with  worshipers,  but  no  one 
has  a  kind  word  for  him ;  no  one  extends  his 
hand  in  brotherly  love;  no  person  expresses 
sympathy  for  the  lonely  one,  and  none  invite 
him  to  a  social  entertainment.  He  goes  away 
as  he  came — alone.  Whittier  says : — 

'  To  worship  rightly  is  to  loVe  each  other — 
Each  smile  a  hymn,  each  kindly  deed  a  prayer.' 

Have  they  worshiped  in  that  spirit  ?  Perhaps 
they  have.  I  fail  to  see  it." 

"  But  would  it  be  good  policy  to  invite  stran- 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  159 

gers,  of  whose  characters  we  are  entirely  igno- 
rant, to  our  family  circles?"  interrupted  Mr. 
Rogers.  "  There  are  so  many  frauds,  rascals, 
and  dangerous  characters,  that  it  looks  to  me  as 
though  it  would  be  dangerous  to  do  so." 

"  You  are  perfectly  right,  if  we  view  the  mat- 
ter from  a  philosophical  standpoint,"  said  Mr. 
Walker.  "  But  while  our  doors  are  closed, 
where  will  he  find  an  hour's  recreation  or  amuse- 
ment ?  Nowhere,  except  in  a  theatre,  beer-gar- 
den, or  a  saloon.  Here  he  learns  to  gamble, 
here  he  spends  his  hard-earned  money,  to  drown 
the  memory  of  happy  childhood  days.  Thou- 
sands of  dollars  are  spent  every  year  for  charit- 
able purposes,  but,  to  my  knowledge,  no  effort 
has  ever  been  made  to  better  the  condition  of 
this  class  of  men.  Every  city  should  have  one 
or  more  libraries,  with  light,  instructive,  and 
healthful  literature ;  and,  as  this  class  represents 
many  different  nationalities  and  different  lan- 
guages, care  should  be  taken  to  introduce  read- 
ing matter  suitable  for  the  different  languages ; 
German,  English,  Irish,  and  French  newspapers 
and  periodicals,  as  well  as  the  papers  from  our 
large  cities,  should  be  on  hand;  a  room  for 
amusement  should  be  attached,  in  which  all 


160  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

kinds  of  innocent  games,  such  as  chess,  check- 
ers, dominoes,  etc.,  should  be  introduced. 
Here  the  strangers  should  be  invited  to  pass 
away  a  leisure  hour,  or  to  find  some  news  from 
the  home  of  their  youth.  The  outlay  would  be 
comparatively  small.  A  small  entrance  fee 
would  cover  the  current  expenses,  and  the  re- 
sult would  be  beneficial  to  all  except  saloon- 
keepers." 

Mr.  Walker  paused,  and  Mr.  Rogers,  after  a 
short  interval,  replied — 

"Mr.  Walker,  I  came  here  this  morning  in 
a  not  altogether  very  pleasant  spirit.  I  came 
here  to  get  your  advice  how  to  proceed  in  bring- 
ing a  scoundrel  to  justice,  and  you  have  given 
me  a  lesson  which  I  shall  never  forget,  and  for 
which  accept  my  thanks ;  and  you,  also,  have 
directed  my  attention  to  a  subject  of  great  im- 
portance— one  which  has  escaped  the  eyes  of 
the  most  devoted  Christians ;  a  subject  that,  if 
reduced  to  practice,  would  do  more  damage  to 
the  saloons  than  all  our  efforts  in  law." 

"  That's  what  I  think,  and  that  is  what  I  have 
advocated  for  some  time ;  but  the  most  I  have 
spoken  to  think  it  not  practical,  or  calculated  to 
produce  the  desired  result,"  replied  Mr.  Walker. 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  161 

"  I'm  not  of  that  opinion/'  said  Mr.  Rogers, 
"  and  shall  study  the  matter  very  closely."  And 
rising  to  start,  he  remarked ;  "Mr.  Walker,  I 
have  already  detained  you  for  quite  a  length  of 
time,  and  will  not  impose  upon  you  any  longer; 
but  I  can  tell  you,  with  all  sincerity,  that  our  con- 
versation has  made  a  deep  impression  on  my 
mind,  and  taught  me  many  things  I  never  knew 
before." 

Extending  his  hand,  which  was  warmly  shaken 
by  Mr.  Walker,  he  bade  him  good  day. 


162  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 


CHAPTER  XI. 

"Goot  morning,  gendlemans,"  said  Uncle 
Nick,  as  he  entered  the  bar-room  of  his  estab- 
lishment. 

"Good  morning,  Uncle  Nick,"  repeated  a 
dozen  voices  around  the  bar.  At  the  same  time 
a  bottle  of  Uncle  Nick's  best  was  passing  around. 
One  of  them  remarked,  "  Have  you  changed 
your  hours  of  rising  ?  It  is  only  eight  o'clock." 

"  It  is  a  leetle  sooner  than  I  pe  in  de  hapit  of 
getting  up,"  replied  Uncle  Nick,  "  put  do-tay  is 
election  tay,  unt  blendy  of  work  to  do."  And 
turning  to  the  barkeeper,  he  said,  "A  leetle 
from  the  stomach  bitters."  The  order  was 
obeyed,  and  when  Uncle  Nick  raised  it  to  his 
lips,  saying,  "  To  de  success  of  Gurney  unt  de 
dicket,"  the  contents  quickly  disappeared. 

"  To  Gurney  and  the  ticket,"  was  repeated  by 
all,  as  they  emptied  their  glasses. 

"  Barkeeper,  hab  de  lunch  early  dis  morning, 
unt  keep  it  all  tay.  Der  vill  pe  a  gute  many 
hungry  fellers,  unt  dey  shall  have  plendy ;  unt 
ven  de  peer  comes,  dake  five  kegs  more.  It  is 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  163 

warm  weather,  unt  de  poys  vill  pe  dry ;  dey  has 
to  vork  hart  do-tay." 

"  Don't  you  shut  up  your  establishment,  Uncle 
Nick  ?  The  law  requires,  on  election  days,  that 
every  bar-room  shall  be  closed  from  sunrise 
until  sunset." 

"  D — m  such  laws.  I  came  to  America  to  pe 
a  free  man.  I  got  my  license  to  legitimate  pis- 
ness,  unt  obens  unt  shuts  ven  I  blease." 

"  You  may  get  into  difficulty,  Uncle  Nick,**  re- 
marked another.  "  I  heard  some  of  them  say, 
yesterday,  that  they  were  going  to  watch  pretty 
close,  and  are  going  to  prosecute  any  one  who 
violates  the  law ;  and  they  have  their  eyes  set 
on  you." 

"  Veil,"  he  replied,  "  dey  vill  get  ahold  of  de 
wrong  customer,  if  dey  fools  mit  Uncle  Nick." 

The  company  called  for  the  bottle  again,  and 
after  all  had  drank  and  supplied  themselves 
with  roasted  coffee,  they  went  away  to  see  what 
was  going  on  at  the  polls,  saying  they  would  be 
back  after  a  while  and  report. 

"  Dit  dey  bay  ?"  asked  Uncle  Nick  of  the  bar- 
keeper, as  soon  as  the  door  closed. 

"  They  said  to  charge  it  to  the  candidates," 

replied  the  latter. 
11 


164  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

"  Veil,  ven  you  charge  to  de  candidates,  you 
must  charge  double  de  amount.  Dis  is  de  last 
chance  to  pick  dem ;  dey  won't  spend  quite  so 
freely  after  de  election  ;  not  until  dey  neet  our 
assistance  again.  Uncle  Nick  had  enough  ex- 
perience in  dese  madders,  unt  I  dink  de  Ameri- 
cans speak  de  druth  ven  dey  say,  '  strike  while 
de  iron  is  hot.'  " 

At  this  moment  the  door  opened,  and  two 
strangers,  followed  by  some  of  "  the  boys,"  en- 
tered. 

"What  will  you  take,  gentlemen  ?"  said  one 
of  "  the  boys  "  to  the  two  strangers. 

"  Some  good  whisky,  if  you  please,"  was  the 
answer. 

"Well,  you'll  find  it  here,"  said  the  one  that 
first  spoke.  "  Uncle  Nick,  as  we  call  the  pro- 
prietor, has  the  name  of  keeping  the  best  in  the 
city." 

"You  live  in  dis  blace?"  interrupted  Uncle 
Nick. 

"  No  ;  we  are  traveling.  Out  of  employment, 
and  out  of  money,  and  trying  to  get  into  work. 
We  slept,  last  night,  a  couple  of  miles  from  here, 
in  a  barn,  as  nobody  would  keep  us." 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  165 

"  Hat  your  breakfast  ?"  asked  Uncle  Nick, 
after  the  stranger  had  finished. 

"  Neither  supper  nor  breakfast,"  replied  the 
man.  "  There  is  no  feeling  of  charity  nowadays, 
for  tramps,  as  they  call  everybody  who  is  obliged 
to  travel  on  foot." 

"Id's  outrageous.  I  would  not  dreat  mein 
tog  dat  vay ;  put  dese  are  de  gute  Christians, 
dat  goes  to  de  church,  unt  dalks  demperance ; 
dey  wants  every  ding  in  der  own  bocket,  unt  do 
not  wants  de  money  to  circulate."  Then,  turn- 
ing to  one  of  the  waiters,  he  said :  "  Dell  de  cook 
to  hurry  up  mit  de  lunch ;  id's  nearly  dime,  any- 
how ;"  and,  turning  again  to  the  strangers,  he 
continued:  "You  shall  have  blendy  to  eat, 
shortly ;  jhust  set  down  unt  rest  yourselves." 

"  Uncle  Nick,  do  you  think  you  can  use  them," 
whispered  one  of  "  the  boys,"  as  the  two  men 
walked  away  from  the  counter,  to  be  seated. 

"  To  pe  shure,"  he  replied ;  "  nodings  more 
certain." 

Lunch  was  served,  and  the  company  increased, 
as  is  always  the  case  at  lunch  time.  The  con- 
versation was  lively,  and  the  topic,  the  election. 

"  How  are  the  boys  getting  along  at  the  upper 
wards  ?  I  heard  it  said  we  will  have  hard  work 


166  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR    . 

to  make  it,"  said  one  of  the  company,  as  he  fin- 
ished the  last  remnant  of  the  fried  sausage. 

"  We'll  be  pretty  close,"  replied  another,  set- 
ting down  an  empty  glass.  "  But,"  he  added, 
"  Mike  has  posted  half  a  dozen  of  his  bull-dogs 
at  every  poll,  and  Pat  Murphy's  saloon  and 
Morgan's  boarding-house  are  full  of  strange 
faces." 

"And  they  had  better  not  fool  with  Mike's 
bullies.;  they  are  ugly  customers,  especially 
when  they  are  about  half  drunk." 

"Dem  is  de  fellers  yust  in  de  right  blace. 
Dey  see  dat  de  poys  puts  in  der  votes  right,  unt 
dat  de  demperance  men  don't  cheat,"  put  in 
Uncle  Nick ;  and  ordering  two  glasses  of  beer 
for  the  strangers,  he  walked  toward  them,  and 
said ;  "  Frients,  you  must  wait  a  leetle ;  dem  is 
my  regular  customers ;  der  vill  pe  room  for  you 
directly."  But,  changing  his  mind,  perhaps  on 
account  of  their  dress,  he  said  to  the  waiter,  who 
had  just  brought  the  beer,  "  You  petter  pring 
dwo  blates,  unt  knives  unt  forks,  over  here,  unt 
vait  on  dem  gendlemans,  unt  give  dem  all  dey 
vant."  Uncle  Nick  had,  by  this  time,  seated 
himself  by  the  side  of  the  strangers,  and  con- 
tinued, "  It  must  pe  purty  hart  draveling  midout 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  167 

money.  How  long  have  you  peen  draveling  dis 
vay  ?" 

"Over  four  weeks,  sir,"  was  the  answer. 
"  We  had  money  when  we  started,  but  it  gave 
out,  and  all  our  efforts  to  obtain  work  were  in 
vain." 

"  Veil,  dat  is  de  vay  mit  de  demperance ;  dey 
would  drow  us  all  out  of  employment.  We 
must  fight  dem  whenever  we  can.  We  are 
fighting  dem  do-tay." 

Here  Uncle  Nick  was  interrupted  by  one  of 
the  company,  who  laughingly  said,  "  How  are 
we  fighting  them,  when  they  have  no  ticket  in 
the  field?" 

"You  know  nodings  about  it,"  was  Uncle 
Nick's  reply.  "  Dese  fellers  on  de  oder  dicket 
are  all  demperance." 

"  Well,  have  it  so,  Uncle  Nick ;  we  won't  fall 
out  about  it.  Come,  let  us  have  something  to 
drink ;  the  candidates  have  to  foot  the  bill,  any- 
how," responded  one  to  Uncle  Nick's  last  re- 
mark. 

"  Gentlemens,"  said  Uncle  Nick  to  the  stran- 
gers, as  he  arose  from  his  seat,  "  emdy  your 
glasses,  unt  come  up  to  de  counter  unt  dake  von 
mit  us  ;  it  vill  give  you  a  petter  abedite." 


168  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

The  two  strangers,  who  all  this  time  had  been 
•working  vigorously  on  Uncle  Nick's  roast  beef, 
hams,  sausage,  cheese,  rye  bread,  bumbernickle, 
etc.,  arose  and  walked  to  the  counter.  The 
glasses  being  all  filled,  one  of  them  proposed  to 
drink  to  the  health  of  the  candidates,  and  to  the 
success  of  the  ticket.  All  responded,  after  which 
the  contents  disappeared.  The  two  strangers 
walked  back  to  their  seats,  and  resumed  their 
unfinished  work.  Customers  came  and  went, 
and  the  waiters  were  kept  busy  replenishing  the 
lunch.  A  new  party  had  just  come  in,  and 
Uncle  Nick  asked  if  they  knew  how  the  election 
was  going  on. 

"  Pretty  close,"  was  the  reply,  "  and  those  fel- 
lows work  like  ants.  We  must  have  more  men, 
or  else  be  beaten."  And,  turning  to  the  bar- 
keeper, he  said,  "Let's  have  the  beer,"  which 
order  was  quickly  obeyed. 

"Have  any  of  you  seen  Gurney,  to-day?"  the 
speaker  continued.  "  O'Brien  and  Welch  have 
been  on  the  lookout  for  him  this  whole  fore- 
noon." 

"  Dey  wond  see  much  of  him  do-tay,"  inter- 
rupted Uncle  Nick.  "  He  done  his  bard  of  elec- 
tioneering yesterday.  He  went  mit  de  poys  all 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  169 

over  de  cidy,  into  every  saloon.  Dey  came  here 
about  ten  o'clock  last  night,  unt  stayed  until 
nearly  one,  when  de  poys  led  him  home ;  he  vas 
doo  trunk  to  be  drusted  alone.  He  is  a  vine 
young  man ;  he  lets  de  money  circulade,  you 
may  pet.  He  vill  pe  on  hands  at  de  heatquar- 
ters,  to-night." 

"Well,  Uncle  Nick,"  interrupted  the  first 
speaker,  "I  must  be  off  again.  Let's  have 
another  drink,  barkeeper."  Looking  around  the 
room,  he  added,  "All  of  you  men  come  and 
have  some." 

The  contents  of  a  dozen  glasses  were  quickly 
dispatched,  when  the  speaker,  after  whispering 
something  to  Uncle  Nick,  left  the  room. 

"Veil,  gendlemans,  dit  you  get  enough  to 
ead  ?"  asked  Uncle  Nick  of  the  two  strangers, 
as  he  seated  himself  again  at  their  side. 

"  Thank  you,  sir ;  we  have  had  plenty,  and  are 
under  many  obligations  to  you,  and — " 

"No  obligations  at  all.  It  is  the  duty  of  every 
Christian  to  feet  de  hungry,  but  dem  demperance 
are  no  Christians,"  replied  Uncle  Nick,  and, 
lowering  his  voice,  he  continued,  "  Now,  mein 
frients,  if  you  wand  to  make  a  dollar  or  dwo 
honestly,  mitout  hart  work,  unt  get  your  boart- 


170  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

ing  unt  trinks  in  de  bargain,  I  pelieve  I  coult  as- 
sist you." 

"  Oh,  we  will  do  most  anything,  no  matter  how 
hard,  if  we  only  can  make  a  little  money,"  was 
the  answer  of  both. 

"  You  see,"  Uncle  Nick  went  on,  "  dese  dem- 
perance  folks  are  preaking  up  de  coundry ;  dey 
give  nopody  work,  unt  drive  dem  away  mit  de 
dogs  if  dey  ask  for  anyding  to  eat ;  unt  do-tay 
dey  dry  to  peat  us  in  de  election.  It  is  de  duty 
of  every  free  man  dat  loves  his  coundry  to  help 
us,  unt  you,  mein  frients,  should  help  us  a  leetle 
doo." 

"  We  gladly  would,  dear  sir,  but  we  are  not 
citizens  of  your  State." 

"  You  are  citizens  of  de  United  States,  unt  as 
such  you  have  a  right  to  vote  wherever  you 
blease,  unt  I  stand  between  you  and  all  danger," 
was  Uncle  Nick's  reply. 

"  They  might  put  a  person  to  a  good  deal  of 
trouble,  and — " 

"  No  drouble  unt  no  danger,  whatever,"  inter- 
rupted Uncle  Nick.  "  All  you  have  to  do  is  to 
state,  if  you  are  asked,  dat  you  are  a  citizen  of 
dis  State,  unt  dis  blace  is  your  home.  De  poys 
will  addend  to  de  odder  madders.  It  is  easy  for 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  171 

you  to  make  dwo  dollars  apiece,  your  boarting, 
unt  all  you  vant  to  trink."  Rising  from  his 
chair,  Uncle  Nick  tapped  one  of  the  strangers 
on  the  shoulder,  and  said :  "  Come,  mein  frients, 
it's  a  bargain.  Let  us  have  someding  to  trink." 

They  looked  at  each  other,  and  one  of  them 
said,  as  they  arose  and  started  for  the  counter — . 

"  We  have  to  do  something  to  keep  us  from 
starving.  I'm  in  for  it." 

"  And  I  too,"  replied  the  other. 

"What  will  you  have,  gentlemen?"  politely 
asked  the  barkeeper. 

"  We  vill  take  peer  dis  dime,"  put  in  Uncle 
Nick.  Brandy  pefore  de  lunch,  de  balance  of 
de  tay  peer,  unt  pefore  going  to  pet,  a  goot 
night-cap.  Dat's  mein  rule,"  he  added,  laugh- 
ing, and,  turning  to  one  who  had  just  come  in, 
he  said,  in  a  low  tone :  "  Frank,  you  are  de  man 
I  want  to  see.  Fix  out  a  couble  of  dickets  for 
dese  gendlemans,  unt  see  dat  dey  are  not  im- 
posed upon,  unt  get  der  votes  in." 

"  I'll  see  to  that,  you  bet,"  responded  Frank, 
and,  after  taking  another  round  at  the  bar,  he 
left  with  his  charge. 

Uncle  Nick's  saloon  was  crowded  all  day,  and 
"  the  poys,"  as  he  called  them,  were  coming  and 


172  NICK  PUT^EL;  OR 

going ;  and  in  the  afternoon  several  fights  were 
reported,  Mike's  bullies  always  coming  out  best. 
Toward  evening  they  began  to  be  pretty  bois- 
terous, as  the  whisky  was  beginning  to  operate, 
and  a  loud  hurrah  for  the  ticket  was  given  when 
the  news  came  that  the  polls  had  closed. 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.      173 


CHAPTER  XII. 

i 

"  Made  a  pretty  good  race.  Three  hundred 
and  forty  majority — over  two  hundred  ahead  of 
the  ticket ;  that  speaks  very  well  for  Arthur  as 
a  beginner." 

These  words,  uttered  by  Mr.  Gurney  as  he 
laid  the  morning  paper  aside  to  take  his  seat  at 
the  breakfast  table,  where  his  wife  was  already 
seated,  were  spoken  more  to  himself  than  to  any 
one  in  particular,  but  his  wife,  being  the  only 
person  present,  replied,  in  a  somewhat  agitated 
voice — 

"I  thought  you  knew  that  last  night.  You 
came  home  so  well  pleased  over  the  result  of 
the  election,  and  over  Arthur  being  elected,  that 
you  could  talk  on  no  other  subject." 

"  Oh,  we  knew  he  was  elected,  but  did  not 
know  by  what  majority.  The  returns  had  not 
all  come  in  from  the  country  when  I  left  head- 
quarters," he  answered. 

"Thank  God,"  said  Mrs.  Gurney,  with  tremb- 
ling voice  and  great  agitation,  "that  this  campaign 


174  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

is  over,  and  may  God,  in  his  mercy,  spare  me 
the  pain  and  suffering  of  ever  witnessing  another 
such  a  one,  with  my  son  as  a  participant." 

"  Why,  my  dear,  this  campaign  was  in  nowise 
different  from  former  ones.  It  only  looks  so  to 
you  because  you  gave  it  more  attention,  your 
son  being  a  candidate ;  and  you  must  admit, 
Maria,,  long  illness  has  made  you  a  little  nervous 
and  excitable." 

"  Perhaps  it  has,  but  it  is  a  wonder  to  me  how 
I  kept  up  as  well  as  I  have,  when  I  review  my 
situation  for  the  last  two  months,  and  with  such 
a  night  as  last  night  fresh  in  my  memory. 
Cursing  and  swearing  seems  to  have  been  the 
order  of  the  day,  and  when  night  set  in  the 
drunken  rowdies  must  have  had  charge  of  the 
city.  At  midnight  it  was  perfectly  frightful ;  it 
was  as  if  the  wild  animals  of  a  menagerie  had 
been  let  loose,  and  were  devouring  each  other." 

So  saying  Mrs.  Gurney  stopped  for  a  moment, 
as  if  to  get  breath,  and  then  continued :  "  You 
were  sound  asleep  when  I  got  up  and  walked  to 
the  window.  I  thought  I  heard  Arthur's  voice. 
I  trembled,  but,  happily,  I  was  mistaken.  Slowly 
I  walked  back,  and  lay  sleepless  by  your  side. 
Shortly  after  the  clock  struck  four  I  heard  foot- 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  175 

steps ;  it  was  Arthur  coming  at  last.  I  felt  re- 
lieved; his  steady  steps  assured  me  that,  for 
once,  he  had  kept  his  promise,  and  had  not  been 
drinking." 

"  Yes,  and  I  think  you  accused  him  of  it  when 
he  was  innocent,"  said  Mr.  Gurney.  After  a  few 
minutes'  silence,  he  went  on :  "  Arthur  has  been 
drinking  a  little  during  the  campaign,  and  has 
been  in  company  with  men  not  altogether  desir- 
able, but  he  had  to  do  it  to  be  successful.  It's 
over  now,  and  he  will  be  the  same  he  always 
was ;  so  do  not  let  anxiety  get  the  better  of  you  ; 
it  only  adds  to  your  afflictions,  and  is  entirely 
unnecessary." 

"  May  heaven  grant  that  this  will  be  true ; 
however,  it  will  be  a  long  time,  if  ever,  before  I 
get  over  it,  for,  during  these  two  months,  I,  as 
well  as  your  son,  have  grown  ten  years  older," 
replied  Mrs.  Gurney. 

"And  may  I  ask,"  he  said,  laughingly,  "what 
fertilizer  has  produced  such  a  rapid  growth  ?" 

Slowly,  with  great  emotion  and  trembling 
voice,  she  answered ;  "  Mine  was  sorrow  and 
grief,  and  your  son's,  beer,  whisky,  wine,  and 
brandy.  Do  not  look  angry  at  me,  dear  hus- 
band," she  continued,  as  a  cloud  seemed  to  be 


176  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

gathering  on  Mr.  Gurney's  brow  ;  "  my  heart  is 
so  full,  I  must  speak,  to  get  relief.  If  the  zeal  for 
Arthur's  success  had  not  blinded  you,  you  would 
have  noticed,  long  ago,  the  change  that  has 
taken  place  in  him.  The  clear,  ringing  sound 
of  his  voice  has  disappeared,  and  in  its  stead  a 
heavy  coarseness  is  perceptible ;  his  eyes,  once 
so  bright  and  clear,  look  dull,  inflamed  and  swol- 
len ;  and  his  step,  once  so  quick  and  firm,  is  slow 
and  unsteady.  Nature  has  not  worked  these 
changes,  but  the  abuse  of  nature.  And  what 
has  abused  it?  Sleepless  nights  and  strong 
drink.  Now,  if  this  agent  of  destruction  can 
make  such  progress  in  a  few  months,  how  long 
will  it  take  to  destroy  the  whole  fabric  ?  Can 
you  blame  me,  then,  when  I  feel  for  the  safety 
of  my  child — of  our  son  ?" 

A  pause  ensued.  Mr.  Gurney  remained  silent. 
It  was  hard  to  tell  whether  he  was  listening  or 
meditating.  Waiting  for  some  time  in  vain  for 
a  reply,  she  continued — 

"I  have  tried  to  do  my  duty  as  a  mother.  I 
have  warned  him  of  the  danger  by  which  he  is 
surrounded.  But  I  have  failed  in  receiving  the 
support  of  his  father — the  support  of  my  hus- 
band. Oh,  may  that  son  never  have  cause  to 


«,: 

•K 


"Her  eyes  were  closed,  and  her  hands  folded." 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  179 

say,  'Father  thou  hast  laid  the  foundation  of  my 
ruin." ' 

Exhausted,  her  head  sank  back  on  the  cushion. 

A  long  pause  ensued,  and  had  it  not  been  for 
the  heaving  of  her  bosom,  an  observer  would 
have  thought  himself  in  the  presence  of  two 
statues,  instead  of  living  beings.  Her  eyes  were 
closed,  and  her  hands  folded  as  if  in  prayer. 
She  remained  in  this  attitude  until  an  arm  was 
encircled  around  her  neck,  a  kiss  pressed  upon 
her  lips,  and  she  heard,  in  a  soft  whisper,  the 
word  "Maria." 

Opening  her  eyes,  she  saw  her  husband  by 
her  side,  his  arm  around  her  neck,  and  the  words 
spoken  came  from  his  lips. 

"Maria,"  he  repeated,  "will  you  forgive  me — 
forgive  me  for  the  pain  and  suffering  I  have 
caused  you  ?  I  acknowledge  to  being  very  care- 
less, but  I  promise  you  that  I  will  do  my  duty 
hereafter.  I  will  talk  with  Arthur  to-day;  so  dry 
your  tears,  and  relieve  your  mind  of  this  bur- 
den." 

The  tears  were  not  dried  up  so  quickly,  but 
flowed  more  freely  down  the  sunken  cheek  than 
at  the  beginning,  for  they  were  not  tears  of  sor- 
row, but  tears  of  joy. 


180  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

"  Oh,  thank  you,  thank  you,"  she  said,  her  eyes 
brightening  under  the  flow  of  tears.  "Your 
words  are  ointment  to  my  wounded  heart.  They 
will  give  me  strength,  and  will  bring  new  life. 
May  God  bless  you." 

"  And  now,  my  dear,"  said  Mr.  Gurney,  when 
her  agitation  had  somewhat  subsided,  "  you  must 
allow  me  to  assist  you  to  your  room ;  you  are 
exhausted,  and  must  have  rest.  My  business 
calls  me  away  for  an  hour  or  so,  and  I  hope  you 
will  feel  rested  and  refreshed  when  I  return." 

The  ringing  of  the  door-bell  denoted  that 
somebody  had  come.  He  stepped  to  the  win- 
dow to  see,  and  exclaimed,  "Annie  and  little 
Arthur.  I  wonder  what  caused  her  to  come  so 
early?" 

"  It  is  not  so  early  as  you  think,  dear  husband. 
We  slept  very  late  this  morning,  and  then  we 
lingered  quite  a  while  over  breakfast." 

Mr.  Gurney,  as  he  looked  at  the  time,  said, 
"  Nearly  ten  o'clock — much  later  than  I  thought. 
I  must  be  off  this  moment." 

The  voices  of  Annie  and  little  Arthur  were 
heard  approaching.  Mr.  Gurney  opened  the 
door,  and  a  moment  later  the  little  fellow  was 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  181 

swinging  up  and  down  in  grandpa's  arms,  seem- 
ingly enjoying  the  sport. 

"What  on  earth  is  the  matter!"  exclaimed 
Annie,  looking  over  the  breakfast  table,  after 
greeting  her  mother.  "  Breakfast  must  have 
been  served  an  hour  ago,  and  it  looks  as  if  not 
a  morsel  of  it  had  been  tasted ;"  and,  looking 
from  mother  to  father,  she  added,  "  I  know  you 
have  not  been  quarreling  over  it,  for  you  both 
look  so  cheerful  and  happy." 

"  And  we  are,"  interrupted  the  father.  "  But 
you  must  persuade  your  mother  to  lie  down. 
Rest,  more  than  anything  else,  will  assist  her  in 
recruiting  her  health,  and  perhaps  some  good 
beef  tea  would  be  more  nourishing  than  coffee. 
But  I  must  be  off."  Saying  this,  he  seated  little 
Arthur,  and  pressing  the  thin  hand  of  his  wife 
to  his  lips,  he  bade  her  good-bye,  and  hurried 
away. 

"  I  do  not  know  when  I  have  seen  father  so 
cheerful,  and  in  such  good  humor,"  remarked 
Annie.  "And  you,  too,  mother,  look  like 
another  person  from  what  you  did  yesterday." 

"  And  I  feel  like  another  person,"  replied  the 
mother.*1  "  But  I  am  too  much  exhausted  to  talk 
12 


182  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

much.  I  had  better  lie  down ;  it  rests  me 
better." 

So  saying,  she  arose,  and,  with  the  assistance 
of  Annie,  retired  to  her  bedroom.  When  she 
had  been  made  comfortable,  and  after  the  fire 
had  been  replenished,  the  mother  said — 

"  Annie,  get  a  chair,  and  sit  by  my  side.  I 
will  tell  you  all." 

"  Would  it  not  be  better  to  have  the  beef  tea 
made  ?  It  will  rest  you  while  I  prepare  it,  and 
you  need  some  nourishment,  as  well  as  rest," 
said  Annie. 

"  Perhaps  you  had  better.  I  feel  as  if  I  could 
drink  some." 

Annie,  after  assisting  the  servant  in  taking 
away  the  unfinished  breakfast,  prepared  with  her 
own  hands  the  tea  for  her  mother,  while  little 
Arthur  was  playing  with  his  numerous  toys  on 
the  carpet. 

It  was  not  over  fifteen  minutes  from  the  time 
Annie  left  the  room  until  she  came  back  with 
the  tea,  but  nature  had  demanded  her  right,  and 
she  found  her  mother  sound  asleep.  She  looked 
at  the  pale  sleeper  for  some  time,  and  then,  with 
tears  rolling  down  her  cheeks,  walked  silently 
away.  Placing  the  tea  on  the  table,  she  ordered 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  183 

the  servant  to  take  and  keep  it  warm,  and  then, 
snatching  up  her  boy,  she  covered  him  with 
kisses,  and  with  a  flood  of  tears  and  quivering 
voice  exclaimed — 

"  May  my  son  never  cause  me  the  trouble  and 
sorrow  his  uncle  has  caused  his  mother,  and  all 
through  the  illusive  ambition  of  a  father." 

Mrs.  Gurney  slept  soundly  for  over  an  hour, 
and  when  at  last  she  awoke  she  told  Annie,  who 
was  sitting  by  her  side,  that  she  felt  like  a  new 
person. 

The  tea  was  ordered,  and  when  handed  to 
her,  she  smilingly  said — 

"  If  this  does  me  as  much  good  as  my  sleep, 
then  I  will  be  under  many  obligations  to  your 
father  for  his  prescription.  It  tastes,  indeed, 
very  good,"  she  added,  after  drinking  half  a  cup, 
and  eating  a  small  slice  of  buttered  toast.  Hav- 
ing finished  her  lunch,  she  continued,  "I  feel  very 
much  refreshed ;  and  now,  Annie,  if  you  will  sit 
by  my  side,  I  will  tell  you  what  your  father  and 
I  were  talking  about  before  you  came  in." 

"  I  am  anxious  to  hear,"  said  Annie,  seating 
herself  by  the  side  of  her  mother.  "  The  subject 
must  have  been  an  agreeable  one,  for  you  both 
looked  cheerful  and  happy." 


184  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

"  It  was  not  in  the  beginning,  but  proved  to 
be  so  in  the  end,"  said  Mrs.  Gurney.  She  then 
related  to  her  daughter  the  conversation  that 
took  place  at  the  breakfast  table. 

"  Oh,  I  am  so  glad  you  came  to  an  understand- 
ing with  father,  and  that  he  promised  to  talk 
with  Arthur.  It  will  have  more  effect  than  from 
anybody  else,"  said  Annie,  after  her  mother 
had  finished. 

"  He  acknowledged  to  me  yesterday  that  he 
did  wrong,  and  that  he  nearly  broke  his  mother's 
heart.  '  But,'  said  he,  with  tears  glistening  in 
his  eyes,  'Annie,  dear  sister,  it  was  not  altogether 
my  fault.  Father  wanted  me  to  be  successful, 
and  told  me :  '  This  you  cannot  be  without  the 
aid  of  saloons  and  barkeepers.  You  must  visit 
them,  be  liberal  and  treat,  no  matter  if  it  costs  a 
few  hundred  dollars,  and  your  success  is  assured, 
and  a  foundation  to  your  political  career  laid.' 
I  followed  his  advice,  and  tried  to  carry  out  his 
instructions.  Of  course,  he  did  not  tell  me  to 
drink,  tut  how  could  I  refuse,  when,  in  such  dens 
of  vice,  I  called  up  a  dozen  or  so  of  men,  who 
are  in  nothing  above  the  animal  except  in  speech, 
and  all  refused  to  drink  unless  I  drank  with 
them  ?  My  short  experience  with  strong  drink 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  185 

has  satisfied  me  that,  although  very  disagreeable 
at  first,  it  soon  creates  a  craving,  uncontrollable 
appetite.  But,  thank  God,  the  election  is  over, 
and  if  my  mother  will  forgive  me,  she  shall  have 
no  cause  to  complain  hereafter.'  " 

Tears  of  joy  filled  the  hollow  eyes  of  the  suf- 
ferer while  Annie  was  speaking,  and  when  she 
paused,  her  face  brightened,  a  smile  played 
around  her  lips,  she  folded  her  hands,  cast  her 
eyes  toward  heaven,  and  murmured — 

"  Lost,  but  found  again !  Oh,  Lord,  Heavenly 
Father,  I  thank  Thee  !  Thou  hast  answered  my 
prayers." 

The  clock  struck  twelve. 

"  Is  it  that  late !"  exclaimed  Annie,  somewhat 
surprised.  "  I  promised  to  be  at  home  by  noon, 
and  perhaps  another  hour's  sleep  will  do  you 
more  good  than  my  company." 

Little  Arthur,  who  had  enjoyed  himself 
hugely,  playing  with  his  little  horses  and  wagons, 
was  lifted  up  to  kiss  grandma  good-bye,  just  as 
Mr.  Gurney  entered  the  room. 

"And  grandpa  must  have  one,  too,"  said 
Annie. 

"  Grandpa  must  have  more  than  one  for  all 


186  NICK  PUTZEL;  QR 

this,"  he  replied,  pulling  from  his  pocket  a  pack- 
age of  bon-bons. 

The  little  fellow  ran  to  his  arms,  and  when 
snatched  up  began  to  pay  off  his  indebtedness. 
At  last  both  seemed  to  be  satisfied  with  the  bar- 
gain, and  promising  her  mother  to  come  back 
and  spend  an  hour  with  her  in  the  evening, 
Annie  started  off  with  little  Arthur,  rejoicing. 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.      187 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

"  I  have  no  desire  to  contest  the  election. 
When  I  suffered  my  name  to  be  brought  before 
the  Convention,  I  did  so  to  please  a  number  of 
my  friends,  and  not  with  the  expectation  of  being 
successful.  My  defeat,  therefore,  is  no  disap- 
pointment." 

These  words,  spoken  by  Mr.  Walker,  were  in 
answer  to  an  inquiry  made  by  Mr.  Gilbert,  in 
regard  to  contesting  the  recent  election  on  ac- 
count of  fraud. 

"  You  may  not  be  disappointed,  Mr.  Walker," 
replied  Mr.  Gilbert,  "  but  your  friends,  and  our 
party,  and  a  good  many  respectable  citizens,  are. 
Shall  we  submit  silently  to  be  ruled  by  igno- 
rance, brutal  force,  and  whisky  ?" 

"  We  have  submitted  to  it  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  shall,  in  all  probability,  for  some  time 
to  come,"  said  Mr.  Walker.  "  King  Alcohol  i 
and  his  subordinates,  as  well  as  his  agents,  are 
a  power  in  the  land,  and  all  who  seek  to  occupy 
prominent  positions  in  public  life  court  their 
favor.  Here  you  see  a  candidate  for  the  Presi- 


188  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

dency  of  the  United  States  lying  prostrate  be- 
fore the  monster's  throne.  '  Mighty  monarch/ 
says  he,  'without  thy  aid  I  will  be  defeated. 
Assist  me,  and  I  will  be  under  lasting  obliga- 
tions to  you.'  '  I  am  a  candidate  for  Governor,' 
says  another.  '  I  cannot  be  successful  without 
your  aid,  and  I  promise  to  be  merciful,  and  re- 
prieve you,  if  you  should  happen  to  be  convicted 
of  murder,  arson,  rape,  burglary,  or  larceny.' 
'  I  am  a  candidate  for  Judge,'  whines  a  third  one. 
'  It  depends  altogether  upon  you  whether  I  will 
be  elected  or  not.  Aid  me,  and  I  promise  you 
that  if  you  are  brought  before  me  for  violating 
the  law,  I  will  be  merciful  in  my  judgment.'  '  I 
am  a  candidate  for  Prosecuting  Attorney,'  says 
a  fourth.  c  Help  me  to  get  elected,  and  if  they 
file  complaints  against  you,  I  will  tell  them  to  go 
home  and  mind  their  own  business.'  Still 
another  says,  '  I  am  a  candidate  for  the  Legisla- 
ture. Help  me  to  defeat  my  opponent,  and  I 
will  do  all  in  my  power  to  protect  you  in  your 
legitimate  business.'  Even  the  candidate  for 
policeman  seeks  his  help,  and  promises  to  move 
in  another  direction  when,  at  a  late  hour  of  the 
night,  a  row  is  raised  in  a  saloon  or  grog-shop. 
You  see,  Mr.  Gilbert,  to  go  into  a  contest  with 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  189 

an  enemy  so  strongly  supported,  is  not  an  easy 
undertaking." 

"  But  something  must  be  done,"  said  Mr.  Gil- 
bert, when  Mr.  Walker  had  finished  speaking, 
"  or  do  away  with  the  ballot-box — the  bulwark 
of  American  liberty — and  let  whisky,  ignorance, 
and  vice  reign  supreme." 

"If  our  people  could  once  understand  that 
politics  in  local  elections  work  injury,  and  should 
be  disregarded,  then  the  first  step  toward  reform 
would  have  been  made.  Respectable  citizens, 
regardless  of  party  politics,  would  guard  the 
ballot-box,  and  it  would  be  difficult  for  those 
whisky  candidates  to  carry  out  their  designs," 
said  Mr.  Walker.  "  But  I  am  afraid  they  never 
will  see  the  necessity  of  it ;  and  as  long  as  tem- 
perance men  will  vote  for  candidates  who  un- 
blushingly  go  from  saloon  to  saloon  to  secure 
the  whisky  vote,  just  because  they  belong  to  the 
same  party,  we  cannot  expect  anything  better." 

"I  never  should  have  believed  that  a  true 
temperance  man  would  do  this,"  replied  Mr. 
Gilbert. 

"  Strange  as  it  seems  to  be,  it  is  none  the  less 
an  undeniable  fact.  There  are  men  who,  three 
hundred  and  sixty-four  days  in  the  year,  advo- 


190  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

cate  the  temperance  cause.  They  are  sincere 
and  faithful  workers,  yet  they  are  so  blinded  by 
party  bias,  that  on  the  three  hundred  and  sixty- 
fifth  day  they  would  vote  for  Bacchus  for  Su- 
preme Judge,  if  the  party  should  nominate  him. 
Try  to  reason  with  them,  or  to  convince  them 
of  their  error,  and  they  will  politely  give  you  to 
understand  that  temperance  must  not,  and  should 
not,  meddle  in  politics.  Why  temperance  and 
sobriety  should  be  excluded,  and  ignorance, 
whisky  and  drunkenness  admitted  as  respectable 
workers  at  the  polls,  is  a  mystery  to  me,  for  at 
every  election  in  my  recollection  whisky  and  his 
agents  never  failed  in  acting  a  prominent  part." 

"  Then  the  law  of  having  the  saloons  closed 
on  election  days  is  not  enforced  ?"  said  Mr.  Gil- 
bert, after  Mr.  Walker  had  paused. 

"  The  law,"  said  Mr.  Walker,  "  is  a  dead  letter 
on  the  statute  book.  Some  have  self-respect 
enough  to  close  their  front  doors,  and  appear  as 
law-abiding  citizens,  but  they  might  just  as  well 
throw  off  the  mask,  and  have  them  open,  as  it 
only  makes  it  inconvenient  for  their  customers 
to  walk  through  the  alleys,  and  slip  in  at  the 
back  and  side  doors,  which  are  kept  open  for 
their  accommodation;  and,  of  all  days  in  the 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  191 

year,  the  most  profitable  to  the  saloon-keeper  is 
the  one  that  the  law  bids  him  to  shut  up  his  es- 
tablishment. Here,  by  the  flow  of  beer  and 
whisky,  votes  are  bought  and  sold,  and  many  an 
honest  candidate,  who  would  have  made  the 
people  a  good  and  faithful  servant,  has  been 
slaughtered  in  the  den  of  vice  by  King  Alcohol 
and  his  agents." 

"  I  never  had  a  very  good  opinion  of  saloons. 
I  always  considered  them  a  necessary  evil,  and 
never  thought  that  they  had  such  influence  in 
our  politics  as  I  learn  from  your  conversation," 
remarked  Mr.  Gilbert;  "  and,"  he  added,  "  I  shall 
always  hereafter  oppose  their  existence." 

"  We  judge  too  much  from  that  point  by  which 
we  are  most  affected,"  said  Mr.  Walker;  "and," 
he  continued,  "  we  are  just  as  much  to  blame, 
and  just  as  guilty  of  violating  the  laws,  as  they 
are.  The  law  will  not  exonerate  me  if  I  en- 
courage you  and  give  you  the  weapon  with 
which  to  kill  your  neighbor;  we  cannot  say 
to  the  saloon-keeper,  '  You  are  responsible  for 
the  damage  done  by  your  whisky,'  while  we 
license  him  to  sell  whisky  for  that  very  purpose. 
And  we  cannot  expect  laws  to  be  respected 
when  their  guardians  are  among  the  first  to  vio- 


192  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

late  them.  We  cannot  expect  foreigners  to  have 
a  high  opinion  of  our  naturalization  law,  when 
we  tell  them  it  is  tyrannical,  and  urge  them  not 
to  respect  it,  but  to  come  forward  and  vote." 

After  a  short  pause,  Mr.  Walker  went  on :  "I 
have  often  wondered  how  men  in  high  standing 
in  society,  devoted  Christians,  who-would  shrink 
at  the  thought  of  doing  wrong  or  injuring  their 
fellow-man,  could  stoop  to  low  intrigues  for  the 
success  of  their  party.  But  such  is  the  case, 
and  while  they  would  do  all  in  their  power  to 
assist  and  help  their  neighbor,  they  will  use  all 
means  at  their  command,  honest  or  dishonest,  to 
defeat  a  political  opponent." 

"  And  so  the  reports  that  went  the  rounds  of 
the  newspapers,  that  you  intended  contesting  the 
election,  were  not  authorized  by  you,  and  are 
without  foundation  ?"  remarked  Mr.  Gilbert. 

"  No  foundation  at  all,  as  far  as  I  am  con- 
cerned. For  the  rest  I  am  not  authorized  to 
speak ;  but  I  think  they  are,  like  myself,  very  well 
satisfied  with  the  result,"  replied  Mr.  Walker. 

"  Well,  this  will  be  a  great  disappointment  to 
a  good  many  in  my  neighborhood,  and,  no  doubt, 
to  a  large  portion  of  the  citizens  of  this  county," 
said  Mr.  Gilbert. 


ARTHUR  GURNEYS  RUIN.         193 

"  They  will  soon  get  over  it.  Mr.  Gurney,  I 
have  no  doubt,  will  make  a  good  and  faithful 
officer,  and  elections,  you  know,  are  soon  forgot- 
ten," remarked  Mr.  Walker. 

"Well,  if  you  have  failed  in  getting' elected 
Prosecuting  Attorney,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Gilbert, 
as  he  started  to  depart,  "  we  will  not  fail  in  elect- 
ing you  Judge.  Good-bye,  Mr.  Walker." 

"  Good-bye,  Mr.  Gilbert,  and  do  not  forget  to 
call  again." 


194  NICK:  PUTZEL;  OR 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

"  Going  to  your  office,  Mr.  Gurney  ?"  said  Mr. 
Welch,  the  newly-elected  Treasurer,  as  he  met 
that  gentleman  in  front  of  the  Court-house, 
where  his  office  was  located. 

"  I  am  just  going  there,  Mr.  Welch.  Why  ? 
Have  you  any  business  for  me?"  asked  Mr. 
Gurney. 

"  Oh,  nothing  of  importance,  but  if  business  is 
not  too  pressing  with  you,  I  should  like  to  oc- 
cupy your  time  for  a  few  minutes." 

"  I'm  at  your  service,  Mr.  Welch.  So  please 
step  into  my  office,  where  we  are  not  so  apt  to 
be  disturbed,"  and  so  saying,  Mr.  Gurney  drew 
the  key  from  his  pocket,  opened  the  door,  and 
both  men  entered. 

"Take  a  seat,  Mr.  Welch^and  make  yourself 
as  comfortable  as  chances  in  a  lawyer's  office 
admit,  and  then  let's  hear  what  good  news  you 
have  in  store  for  me,"  said  Mr.  Gurney,  offering 
his  visitor  a  chair. 

"  I  am  here  to  see  you  about  our  little  indebted- 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  195 

ness,  which  we  contracted  at  the  last  election," 
said  Mr.  Welch,  as  he  seated  himself. 

"  Our  indebtedness,  you  say !"  exclaimed  Mr. 
.Gurney,  in  astonishment.  "Indeed,  I'm  not 
aware  of  being  indebted  to  any  person,  as  to 
money  matters,  and  all  through  the  campaign  I 
paid  for  everything  I  bargained  for." 

"That  is  just  what  I  told  Mr.  O'Brien  and 
Uncle  Nick,  when  we  were  speaking  about  it — 
that  you  were  not  acquainted  with  the  custom 
and  management  of  elections,  and  have  not  the 
faintest  idea  of  our  indebtedness,"  remarked 
Mr.  Welch. 

"  Well,  I  must  confess  that  I  am  in  the  dark 
as  to  the  meaning  of  your  words.  Will  you 
please  enlighten  me  with  an  explanation  ?"  said 
Mr.  Gurney. 

"  You  see,  it  has  always  been  the  custom  to 
have  free  tables  and  free  drinks  on  election  days, 
and  in  hot  and  closely  contested  elections  there 
is  considerable  expense  in  procuring  votes. 
This  last  one  was  more  so  than  on  any  former 
occasion  in  my  recollection,  and  we  had  to  straiu 
every  nerve  to  meet  with  success.  In  a  conver- 
sation I  had  with  your  father,  shortly  after  the 
nomination,  he  requested  me  to  attend  to  all 


196  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

such  matters,  saying  that  you  had  very  little  ex- 
perience in  them.  He  charged  me  not  to  shrink 
on  account  of  expenses,  and  that  he  would  see 
all  debts  liquidated.  I  promised  him  I  would  do 
all  in  my  power  to  insure  success,  and  I  am 
proud  to  say  that  he  has  not  been  disappointed." 

"Will  you  please,  Mr.  Welch,"  interrupted 
Mr.  Gurney,  "tell  me  how  much,  and  to  whom, 
I  am  indebted  ?" 

"  Mr.  Putzel,  or  Uncle  Nick,  as  he  is  called, 
says  his  amount  foots  up  one  hundred  and  ten 
dollars.  I  have  no  doubt  but  what  he  has  put 
it  on  to  us  pretty  heavy,  for  he  is  known  as  the 
greatest  scoundrel  in  the  city ;  but  we  cannot 
get  along  without  him,  for  he  commands  the 
greater  portion  of  the  whisky  vote,  and  can 
make  votes  when  all  others  fail.  This  he  knows, 
and  makes  the  one  who  seeks  his  influence  pay 
pretty  dearly  for  it.  Then,  there  are  several 
other  accounts,  of  no  great  amount,  however, 
the  largest  being  at  Pat  Murphy's,  which  is  fifty 
dollars,  and  at  Morgan's,  thirty-five.  The  whole 
amount,  Uncle  Nick's  included,  is  somewhere 
near  three  hundred  dollars,  or  about  one  hun- 
dred dollars  to  each  of  us,"  replied  Mr.  Welch. 
It's  considerable,  but  it  can  be  managed  to  be 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  197 

paid  without  a  very  great  strain  on  our  pocket- 
books,"  he  added,  with  a  knowing  wink  of  the 
eye. 

"  Mr.  Welch,"  interrupted  Mr.  Gurney,  some- 
what impatient  at  the  lengthy  explanation  of  the 
former,  "  I  feel  very  sorry  that  I  was  not  informed 
of  this  sooner.  Perhaps  they  will  think  me  very 
slow  in  the  payment  of  my  debts.  But  if  you 
will  do  me  the  kindness  to  call  at  my  office  to- 
morrow evening,  or  tell  me  when  it  is  conveni- 
ent to  you  for  me  to  call  at  your  office,  I  will 
hand  you  the  money  for  liquidation." 

"  I  would  rather  you  would  attend  to  this  mat- 
ter in  person,  Mr.  Gurney,"  replied  Mr.  Welch. 
"  Not  that  I  have  any  objection,"  he  continued, 
"  but  you  could  see  and  satisfy  yourself  as  to  the 
amount  charged  against  us,  and  it  would  show 
some  respect  for  the  men  who  worked  so  hard 
and  faithfully  for  our  success.  They  say,"  he 
added,  smilingly,  "  that  you  never  have  shown 
your  face  inside  their  doors  since  the  evening 
before  the  election,  and  Uncle  Nick  growls  like 
an  old  grizzly  for  being  caught  voting  for  a 
'temperance.' " 

"  Does  he  expect  a  man  to  visit  his  saloon 
every  day,  because  he  somewhat  assisted  in  his 

13 


198  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

election,  and  for  which  service  he  charges  as 
suits  him  best  ?  However,  to  show  him  that  I 
am  not  above  visiting  saloons,  I  will  meet  you 
there  to-morrow  evening,  if  not  otherwise  pre- 
vented, to  settle  our  account,"  said  Mr.  Gurney. 

"  I  will  see  O'Brien  about  it.  We  can  meet 
at  Uncle  Nick's  to-morrow  evening,  after  sup- 
per, straighten  up  things  there,  then  go  to  the 
other  places,  and  wind  up  the  whole  business 
the  same  evening.  A  few  treats  will  not  amount 
to  very  much,  but  will  raise  us  highly  in  their 
estimation,"  remarked  Mr.  Welch. 

"  I  do  not  mind  the  cost,  and  any  one  is  wel- 
come to  drink  at  my  expense,  but  as  for  myself, 
I  wish  to  be  excused.  Strong  drink  does  not 
agree  with  me.  I  felt  its  effect  on  several 
occasions  during  the  late  campaign.  It  also 
brought  considerable  trouble  to  the  heart  of  my 
feeble  mother,  and  I  resolved,  for  her  sake  and 
my  own  good,  not  to  drink  any  more,"  replied 
Mr.  Gurney. 

"  So  you  conclude  to  withdraw  from  public 
life  after  the  expiration  of  your  present  term  of 
office  ?"  remarked  Mr.  Welch,  with  affected  sur- 
prise in  his  tone. 

"I  don't  think  it  necessarily  follows   that  I 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  199 

should  withdraw  from  public-  life  because  I  have 
quit  drinking,"  said  Mr.  Gurney. 

"  Oh,  it  is  not  necessary,  but  it  amounts  to  the 
same  thing  in  the  end,"  said  Mr.  Welch.  "  A 
candidate,"  he  continued,  "  who  is  suspected  of 
favoring  or  harmonizing  with  temperance  prin- 
ciples, has  no  show  of  success.  I  have  watched 
many  elections,  and  always  with  the  same  re- 
sult. Take,  for  instance,  the  last  election.  You 
will  admit  that  in  Mr.  Walker  you  had  a  very 
formidable  opponent — a  man  very  well  qualified, 
of  the  highest  standing  in  society,  and  greatly 
respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  You  are  very 
young  to  fill  such  an  office,  and  although  unex- 
ceptionable in  character,  and  highly  educated, 
you  are  without  any  practical  experience  in  your 
profession  ;  and  yet  you  defeated  him,  by  three 
hundred  majority,  and  ran  two  hundred  ahead 
of  the  ticket.  This  was  simply  because  Mr. 
Walker  is  a  strong,  devoted  temperance  man,  is 
opposed  to  the  use  of  all  spirits,  as  a  beverage, 
and,  consequently,  in  every  saloon-keeper  he  has 
an  enemy.  The  other  candidates  on  the  ticket 
were  men  who  drank,  but  who  feel  themselves 
too  respectable  to  go  into  common  saloons  and 
spend  a  few  dollars  with  "  the  boys,"  and  for  that 


200  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

reason  have  no  influence  among  them.  This 
accounts  for  our  success.  Therefore,  I  say  you 
may  just  as  well  withdraw  from  public  life,  for 
without  the  aid  of  saloons  defeat  is  certain." 

"  I  wish  not  to  be  understood  as  having  any- 
thing against  saloons,  Mr.  Welch,"  interrupted 
Mr.  Gurney.  "  On  the  contrary,  I  think  the 
business  just  as  honorable  as  any  other ;  and,  for 
my  part,  I  have  no  desire  to  join  the  temperance 
society,  or  use  influences  damaging  to  their 
trade.  I  have  not,"  he  continued,  "  been  in  a 
saloon  since  the  evening  before  the  election ; 
not  because  I  have  anything  against  saloon- 
keepers, but  because  I  am  afraid  of  forming  a 
habit  for  strong  drink,  and  also  to  bring  peace 
to  my  broken-hearted  mother.  My  short  expe- 
rience with  saloons  has  taught  me  that  you  are 
expected  to  drink,  and  if  you  are  a  candidate, 
or  holding  an  office,  to  treat  when  you  visit  any 
of  them.  •  I  would  not  mind  the  treating  part,  if 
I  could  do  so  without  being  compelled  to  drink 
myself.  But  this  seems  to  be  impossible,  and 
therefore  my  withdrawal." 

"  Oh,  if  this  is  all  the  objection,"  remarked 
Mr.  Welch,  laughingly,  "you  have  against  sa- 
loons, then  you  are  all  right.  Saloon-keepers 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  201 

are  not  all  like  Uncle  Nick,  who  wants'  every 
one  to  drink  what  he  does.  If  you  call  out  a 
treat,  just  order  what  suits  you  best.  If  you 
don't  like  strong  drinks,  call  for  beer  or  cider, 
and  if  they  don't  suit,  take  lemonade  or  soda- 
water,  or  take  a  cigar.  You  cannot  object  to 
any  of  them  as  strong  drinks,  and  I  take  it  for 
granted  that  you  smoke." 

"For  pity's  sake,"  interrupted  Mr.  Gurney, 
with  a  shudder,  "don't  mention  tobacco  or 
cigars.  The  very  sound  of  the  words  creates  a 
dizziness  in  my  head,  and  chokes  me  up.  I  had 
so  much  of  it  during  the  campaign,  that  often  I 
thought  myself  transformed  into  a  movable  to- 
bacco hogshead.  Even  my  boots  seemed  to  be 
made  of  tobacco,  and  once,  at  Pat  Murphy's,  I 
came  near  choking  to  death,  from  the  volume  of 
smoke,  and  had  I  not  made  for  the  door,  to  get 
fresh  air,  I  believe  I  would  be  in  my  grave  now." 

"  The  smoke  of  that  dog-leg  and  black  navy 
tobacco,  I  admit,  is  not  very  pleasant,"  said  Mr. 
Welch,  breaking  out  into  a  laugh. 

"  Especially  when  flavored  with  the  smell  of 
rifle  whisky,"  added  Mr.  Gurney. 

"  But  the  smoke  of  a  good  Havana — " 

"  May  be  a  fine  aroma  to  the  nostrils  of  some, 


202  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

but  mine  wish  to  be  excused,"  said  Mr.  Gurney, 
finishing  the  sentence  for  Mr.  Welch. 

"  You  will  think  differently  when  you  make 
the  campaign  as  a  veteran,"  laughingly  remarked 
Mr.  Welch. 

"  Perhaps  I  will,"  rejoined  Mr.  Gurney. 
"They  say  time  makes  great  changes,  but  I 
scarcely  think  that  it  ever  will  change  me  to  a 
tobacco-loving  creature ;  and,  for  that  reason, 
changing  the  subject,  I  wish  you  would  do  me 
the  favor  and  settle  my  bill  at  Pat  Murphy's,  for 
I  would  rather  suffer  anything  else  than  to  stand 
another  punishment  of  tobacco  smoke.  I 
wouldn't  mind  visiting  a  saloon,  and  drinking, 
occasionally,  a  glass  of  soda  or  lemonade,  but 
these  grog-shops  are  fearful,  and  enough  to  kill 
any  person  whose  lungs  are  not  prepared  with 
a  coat  of  mail." 

"That's  all  so,"  replied  MrfWelch,  "but  from 
these  places  we  receive  our  support.  Those 
respectable  saloons,  which  merchants  and  clerks 
frequent,  are  of  very  little  assistance  to  us.  In 
them,  politics  are  but  very  little  agitated,  and 
votes  cannot  be  bought  there,  because  those 
who  have  them  for  sale  don't  go  in  such  places. 
It  is  the  saloons  patronized  by  sportsmen,  and 


A.RTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  203- 

those  known  as  grog-shops,  or  doggeries,  where 
we  draw  our  support  from ;  and,  consequently, 
we  must  always  try  to  have  them  in  our  favor. 
But  time  speeds  away.  I  must  be  off  to  my 
office,  and  if  I  should  not  see  you  again  before, 
I  will  see  you  to-morrow  evening,  at  the  Court- 
house saloon." 


204  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 


CHAPTER  XV. 

"  Mr.  Walker,  perhaps  you  think  me  very  im- 
pertinent in  trespassing  on  your  time.  I  was 
just  in  the  act  of  passing  your  office,  and  thought 
I  would  call  and  express  to  you  my  heartfelt 
thanks  for  the  kind  advice  you  gave  me  in  re- 
gard to  my  son,  and  relate  to  you,  if  you  have  a 
few  minutes'  spare  time,  the  result  of  a  little  ex- 
periment in  regard  to  our  last  conversation. 

"  No  trespass  at  all,  friend  Rogers,"  replied 
Mr.  Walker,  shaking  the  offered  hand  of  the 
speaker.  "  And  as  to  your  thanks,  indeed  I 
cannot  remember  having  done  anything,  or  giv- 
en you  any  advice,  which  would  call  forth  thanks. 
But  please  be  seated,  and  let  us  have  the  result 
of  your  experiment.  I  am  anxious  to  hear  what 
it  can  be." 

So  saying,  he  handed  Mr.  Rogers  a  chair,  and 
that  gentleman,  after  seating  himself,  said — 

"  You  will  remember  advising  me  to  try  kind- 
ness and  persuasion  in  reforming  my  misled 
son,  and  to  make  home  cheerful,  pleasant,  and 
attractive,  to  keep  him  from  being  led  astray 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  205 

again.  I  left  your  office,  and  on  my  way  home 
reconsidered  every  word,  and  by  the  time  I 
reached  home  I  had  decided  to  do  all  in  my 
power  to  make  it  effective,  so  as  to  bring  about 
the  desired  result.  My  family  is  large — five 
children — three  boys  and  two  girls ;  the  oldest 
nineteen,  and  the  youngest  seven.  I  knew  the 
different  ages  required  different  treatment,  and 
made  my  plans  accordingly.  My  oldest  son  is 
a  great  fellow  for  machinery,  and  also  has  a  taste 
for  chemistry.  I  resolved  to  subscribe  for  a  sci- 
entific and  chemical  journal.  Several  of  the 
older  ones  exhibit  a  taste  for  literature,  so  I  re- 
solved to  get  a  few  of  our  best  illustrated  week- 
lies, and  for  the  little  ones,  I  thought  illustrated 
children's  papers  would  be  best.  Of  course,  I 
would  counsel  with  my  wife  about  my  plans. 
Perhaps  she  could  suggest  some  ideas,  or  help 
me  in  the  selection  of  games  for  their  amuse- 
ment. My  feelings  when  I  entered  the  house 
were  quite  different  from  what  they  were  when 
I  left  in  the  morning.  My  wife  met  me  in  the 
hall,  with  tears  in  her  eyes,  and  with  a  trembling 
voice  and  pleading  tone,  said — 

"  '  Dear  husband,  do  not  be  too  hard  on  James. 
The  poor  boy  has  cried  ever  since  you  left,  and 


206  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

he  promised  me  that  if  his  father  will  forgive 
him  this  time  it  never  shall  happen  again.  Oh, 
he  trembles  to  meet  you,  and  I  promised  to  in- 
tercede for  him.' 

" '  I  will  not  chastise  him,'  I  said,  '  because  I 
think  he  has  been  more  sinned  against  than  sin- 
ning, and  that,  too,  by  his  parents.' 

"She  looked  at  me  very  strangely,  and  re- 
marked, '  Dear  husband,  I  do  not  understand  the 
meaning  of  your  words.' 

" '  Well,  I  do  not  think  we  have  treated  our 
children  quite  as  we  ought  to,'  I  said.  '  In  som'e 
respects  we  are  too  strict ;  in  others,  entirely  too 
careless.  We  wish  them  to  be  obedient,  not 
through  love,  but  by  command.  We  never  con- 
trive an  hour  of  pleasure  for  them,  and  never 
mingle  with  them  in  their  innocent  sports.  No, 
dear  wife,  I  shall  not  chastise  the  poor  boy  for 
doing  wrong,  when  I  have  done  wrong  myself.' 

"  I  told  her,  then,  of  the  conversation  I  had 
with  you ;  of  the  advice  you  gave  me,  and  the 
plans  I  proposed.  She  concurred  with  me  in 
all,  and  all  the  wrongs  of  the  poor  boy  were  for- 
gotten. Our  conversation  lasted  over  half  an 
hour,  when  we  agreed  to  go  and  see  James. 
The  poor  boy  must  have  heard  my  approach, 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  207 

for  when  I  opened  the  door  of  the  room  where 
he  was,  he  began  crying,  and  begged  me  to  for- 
give him.  I  walked  up  to  him,  took  his  hand, 
and  said — 

"  '  I  have  forgiven  you.  I  know  you  will  not 
do  it  any  more.  You  have  no  disposition  to  do 
wrong,  and  were  only  led  astray.' 

"  I  talked  with  the  grief-stricken  boy  for  some 
time,  while  his  mother  was  preparing  something 
for  him  to  eat.  The  kindness  with  which  I 
treated  him  warmed  up  his  heart,  and  he  told 
me,  without  reserve,  how  he  was  led  astray. 

"  The  day  that  began  so  gloomy  and  dreary 
to  my  wife  and  me  found  us  merry  and  joyful 
at  its  close ;  and  when  I  reviewed  my  day's 
work,  after  retiring,  I  thought  it  the  best  I  had 
done  for  a  long  time." 

"  And  you  have  found  kind  words  will  do  more 
to  gain  obedience,  and  keep  your  children 
around  the  family  circle,  than  harsh  words  and 
the  rod?"  said  Mr.  Walker,  after  Mr.  Rogers 
had  paused. 

"  Of  this  I  am  fully  convinced,"  the  latter  went 
on.  "  But  for  you,  Mr.  Walker,  I  never  would 
have  thought  of  giving  it  a  trial.  But  my  story 
is  not  all  told  yet.  I  was  determined  to  carry 


208  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

out  my  plans.  The  evening  following,  the  Sci- 
entific American,  a  journal  of  chemistry,  an  illus- 
trated weekly,  and  several  useful  children's  pa- 
pers, were  found  on  the  table.  I  told  the  child- 
ren that  if  I  saw  they  took  any  interest  in  them, 
they  should  have  them  every  week.  Their  joy, 
from  the  oldest  to  the  youngest,  was  unbounded, 
and  the  next  day,  when  they  found  a  swing,  and 
games  of  amusement  added  to  their  literature, 
I  was  obliged  to  leave  the  premises,  to  escape 
their  gratitude  and  thanks.  I  established  regu- 
lar hours  in  which  to  have  our  out-door  exer- 
cises ;  and  after  supper,  reading  and  in-door 
games  are  indulged  in.  I  take  part  whenever 
time  permits,  and  I  find  it  is  enjoyment  for  me, 
as  well  as  for  them.  My  wife  often  says,  while 
watching  our  proceedings,  that  she  believes  I 
have  grown  a  child  again.  So  far,"  continued 
Mr.  Rogers,  after  a  short  pause,  "  my  experience 
has  been  successful  beyond  expectation." 

"  And  I  have  no  doubt  thousands  of  others, 
if  they  could  be  persuaded  to  try  the  experi- 
ment, would  testify  to  the  same  result,"  remarked 
Mr.  Walker,  when  Mr.  Rogers  had  paused. 
And,  as  if  speaking  to  himself,  he  added,  "  Seeds 
of  kindness  have  sprouted,  grown  and  brought 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  209 

fruit,  on  soil  wh'ere  all  others  have  failed.  I  am 
glad,  Mr.  Rogers,  that  you  have  made  the  ex- 
periment, the  result  of  which  I  have  never 
doubted.  I  may,  perhaps,  induce  others  to  fol- 
low your  example.  Oh,  how  many  lives  are 
brought  to  destruction,  fill  a  drunkard's  grave, 
end  in  the  penitentiary,  or  on  the  gallows,  by  the 
chilly  and  cheerless  atmosphere  inhaled  under 
the  parental  roof." 

"  Some  of  my  neighbors  are  paying  pretty 
close  attention,"  said  Mr.  Rogers,  laughingly,  as 
Mr.  Walker  ceased  speaking,  "  and  I  have  no 
doubt  that  I  will  have  a  good  many  competitors 
ere  long.  But  this  is  not  all,"  he  continued.  I 
have  extended  my  experiment,  since  our  last 
conversation,  in  which  you  brought  to  my 
attention  the  condition  of  those  beings  among 
us  who  have  no  homes,  or  families,  or  relatives,  or 
friends,  and  who  are,  in  every  sense  of  the  words 
as  you  expressed  them,  strangers  in  a  strange 
land ;  and  while  it  affects  all,  it  is  felt  most  by 
those  coming  from  a  foreign  land.  Several  of 
my  neighbors  have  foreigners  in  their  employ, 
and  I  resolved,  should  an  opportunity  offer,  to 
make  myself  thoroughly  acquainted  with  their 
social  condition.  I  had  not  long  to  wait.  Dr. 


210  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

Carson  has  nad,  for  the  last  three  years,  a  Ger- 
man in  his  employ.  He  is  an  excellent  gar- 
dener, takes  good  care  of  the  Doctor's  horses, 
trustworthy  in  every  respect,  and  exceedingly 
handy  about  the  house.  The  only  fault  he  has, 
says  the  Doctor,  is,  that  he  will  occasionally  get 
on  a  drunk.  This  man  I  singled  out  as  my  first 
subject.  He  would,  when  at  leisure,  come  to 
the  fence  apd  look  on  when  we  played  our 
games,  and  seemed  to  enjoy  the  sport  as  much 
as  if  he  were  taking  part.  I  invited  him  to  come 
over.  The  friendly  invitation  was  duly  appre- 
ciated, but  he  respectfully  declined,  remarking, 
in  broken  English,  that  perhaps  it  might  not 
please  the  Doctor.  But  having  obtained  that 
gentleman's  consent,  no  one  was  more  promptly 
on  hand  than  Fritz.  He  always  managed  to  get 
through  with  his  work  before  our  appointed 
time,  so  he  could  enjoy  the  sport  uninterrupted. 
I  found  him  to  be  very  intelligent.  We  all  liked 
him,  and  now  he  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  the 
family. 

"  '  Mr.  Rogers/  he  said  one  day  to  me,  when 
we  were  alone,  '  I  feel  like  another  man  since  I 
got  acquainted  with  you  and  your  family.' 

" '  Why  so  ?'  I  said,  affecting  surprise. 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  211 

" '  Why,  you  see,'  he  went  on,  '  it  seems  so 
much  like  home.  Oh,  the  people  of  America 
are  so  cold,  and  so  hard  to  get  acquainted 
with !' 

"Tears  rolled  down  the  poor  fellow's  cheeks, 
as  he  spoke  those  words. 

" '  Have  you  no  relatives  in  this  country  ?'  I 
asked. 

" '  I  have  a  cousin,  but  have  failed  to  find  him ; 
all  my  search  was  in  vain.  My  money  gave  out 
when  I  got  to  this  city.  I  came  across  the  Doc- 
tor, who  hired  me,  and  I  have  been  with  him 
ever  since.' 

" '  And  how  do  you  spend  your  hours  ?'  I  in- 
quired. 

" '  Well,'  said  he,  '  you  see,  I  am  very  fond  of 
reading,  but  I  cannot  read  English,  so  I  go  to 
the  saloon,  sometimes,  to  read  the  paper,  and 
drink  a  glass  of  beer.' 

" '  But  could  you  not  read  the  paper  in  some 
private  family  ?'  I  continued. 

" '  Most  of  the  people  do  not  want  to  be  both- 
ered with  strangers,'  he  replied. 

" '  Well,  does  it  never  happen  that  you  meet 
with  good  company  in  saloons,  and  sometimes 
drink  too  much  ?' 


212  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

" '  Yes,  very  often,'  he  said,  '  and  it  comes  from 
that  very  bad  custom  they  call  treating.  You 
see,'  he  went  on,  in  his  broken  English,  '  I  go  to 
read  the  paper  and  drink  a  glass  of  beer. 
When  I  open  the  door  somebody  takes  me  by 
the  arm,  and  says,  '  Come,  let's  drink  a  glass  of 
beer,  it's  my  treat.'  After  a  while  another  one 
says,  '  Barkeeper,  fill  them  up  again,  it's  my 
treat.'  A  little  later,  another  one  says,  '  Boys, 
come  up,  it's  my  treat.'  You  wait  a  little  while, 
and  then  you  say,  'Well,  men,  you  have  all 
treated,  what  will  you  take  with  me  ?'  Three  or 
four  others  do  the  same,  and  the  consequences 
are,  our  money  gone,  all  of  us  drunk,  and  the 
next  day  severe  headache  and  nervousness. 
Oh,  if  I  only  could  read  English,  no  one  would 
ever  see  me  in  a  saloon  again.' 

"  After  a  short  pause,  and  while  I  was  in  the 
act  of  leaving,  I  remarked  that  my  son  James 
was  desirous  of  learning  German,  and  if  he 
would  undertake  to  teach  him,  I  would  get  the 
necessary  books,  and  at  the  same  time  he  could 
learn  English.  Also,  I  told  him  he  should  have 
a  German  paper  every  week,  if  he  would  pro- 
mise never  to  visit  a  saloon.  You  ought  to  have 
seen  him  when  I  spoke  those  words.  His  eyes 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  213 

beamed  with  joy,  he  grasped  my  hand,  and  look- 
ing me  in  the  face,  said,  '  Mr.  Rogers,  you  have 
been  acting  a  father  to  me.  I  promise  you 
that  I  will  never  enter  a  saloon,  except  on 
business,  and  you  shall  never  hear  of  Fritz 
breaking  his  word.'  And  I  am  satisfied  that  he 
spoke  the  truth." 

"  Very  well  done,  indeed,"  said  Mr.  Walker, 
after  the  speaker  paused.  "  You  deserve  credit 
for  the  management  which  worked  such  favor- 
able results." 

"  The  credit  belongs  to  you,  Mr.  Walker,  and 
not  to  me.  It  was  your  idea  and  theory  that  I 
experimented  on,  and  not  mine.  I  was  only  the 
instrument,  while  you  were  its  guide,"  remarked 
Mr.  Rogers. 

"But,"  he  continued,  "I  must  tell  you  the  rest 
of  my  experiment.  My  neighbor  Jones  has  an 
Irish  teamster.  He  has  been  in  his  employ  for 
some  years.  Mr.  Jones  says  he  is  the  best  kind 
of  a  fellow,  a  good  teamster,  and  very  industri- 
ous ;  but  as  regular  as  Sunday  comes  Pat  will 
go  on  a  drunken  spree.  He  was  no  stranger  to 
me,  and  I  singled  him  out  for  my  experiment,  as 
I  was  determined  to  try  it  on  men  of  different 
nationalities.  One  evening,  while  the  children 

14 


214  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

and  Fritz  were  in  the  garden,  playing  their  usual 
games,  I  walked  up  to  Pat,  who  was  sitting  at 
the  entrance  of  the  stable,  smoking  his  pipe,  and 
seemingly  enjoying  our  sport,  and  said — 

" '  Pat,  come  over,  take  a  part,  and  help  us 
out.' 

" '  I  would  make  a  fine  appearance  among 
young  ladies  and  gentlemen,'  he  replied,  laugh- 
ingly, reviewing  himself. 

" '  We  do  not  exclude  any  one  because  they 
are  in  their  working  clothes,  so  just  come  over. 
You  can  see  better,  anyhow,  if  you  do  not  wish 
to  take  a  part.' 

"  My  kind  words  had  the  desired  effect.  He 
accepted  the  invitation,  jumped  over  the  fence, 
walked  with  me  to  the  playground,  and  got  so 
interested  in  the  game  that  he  took  an  active 
part  in  it  before  he  was  aware  of  it. 

"  Now,  if  this  don't  beat  all,'  he  said,  after  the 
game  was  finished.  'I  thought  I  would  look  on 
a  little,  and  here  I  was  taking  part  before  I  was 
aware  of  it.' 

" '  Well,  Pat,'  said  I,  as  he  was  about  to  leave, 
'come  over  whenever  you  have  time,  and  of 
evenings,  when  you  feel  like  it,  come  over  and 
hear  the  news,  and  some  other  reading  that  may 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  215 

interest  you.  We  devote  an  hour  every  eve- 
ning after  supper  to  reading,  and  afterward 
amuse  ourselves  with  different  games.  We 
would  be  very  glad  to  have  you  with  us.' 

"  He  looked  at  me  in  perfect  astonishment, 
and  after  a  few  moments  of  silence,  replied — 

"'You  are  joking,  Mr.  Rogers,  for  men  of 
your  social  standing  are  not  apt  to  invite  labor- 
ers to  mingle  in  their  family  circle.' 

" '  And  why  not  ?'  said  I,  '  if  we  know  them  to 
be  good,  moral  men.  It  surely  is  not  a  disgrace 
to  make  a  living  at  work.  On  the  contrary,  we 
should  respect  them  more  for  it.' 

" '  Most  of  the  people  in  your  circumstances 
do  not  think  that  way.  They  would  think  it  be- 
neath them  to  speak  a  kind  word  to  a  working 
man.' 

" '  Such  men  are  not  Christians,  and  we  must 
forgive  them  for  not  knowing  better.' 

"  Before  parting,  and  through  the  persuasion 
of  my  son,  he  promised  he  would  come  after 
supper,  and  he  was  as  good  as  his  word,  for  just 
as  we  were  ready  for  our  evening's  work,  Pat, 
nicely  dressed,  with  more  the  appearance  of  a 
dry  goods  clerk  than  a  teamster,  arrived.  He 
was  very  reserved  at  first,  but  soon  warmed  up, 


216  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

and  went  away  apparently  very  well  satisfied, 
promising  that  he  would  call  whenever  he  could 
get  off.  He  calls  now  very  often,  and  all  his 
shyness  has  disappeared.  '  Pat,'  said  I,  one  eve- 
ning, '  how  did  you  generally  spend  your  time  ?' 

" '  Well,'  said  he,  through  the  week,  after  my 
day's  work  was  done,  I  would  light  my  pipe,  sit 
in  front  of  the  stable,  where  I  fixed  a  rough 
bench,  take  a  smoke,  and  then  go  to  bed.  Sun- 
day morning  I  would  attend  mass ;  after  dinner 
would  go  to  the  saloon,  hear  the  news  and  have 
a  little  fun.' 

"  '  What  kind  of  fun  did  you  have,  generally, 
in  a  saloon,  on  Sunday  ?'  I  inquired. 

" '  O,  we  would  take  our  dram,  play  a  game 
of  cards  or  billiards,  or  throw  dice  for  the  drinks.' 

"'Well,  in  doing  that  way,  don't  you  some- 
times get  a  little  too  much  ?' 

" '  Not  sometimes,'  he  answered,  '  but  a  good 
many  times.  You  see  we  go  to  playing  just  for 
one  drink  only,  but  the  one  that  loses  wants  re- 
venge ;  well,  another  one  loses  and  he  wants  re- 
venge, and  so  on  a  half  dozen,  yes,  sometimes  a 
dozen  times.  You  don't  think  of  getting  too 
much,  and  always  think  yourself  the  soberest 
man,  until  next  morning,  when  you  wake  up 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  217 

with  a  severe  headache,  and  discover  you  were 
beastly  drunk  the  day  before.' 

" '  You  ought  not  to  go  to  such  places,  Pat,' 
said  I,  when  he  had  finished.  '  You  ought  to  go 
in  better  company,  into  respectable  society.' 

"  '  Yes,  and  be  driven  out  of  the  house,'  he  in- 
terrupted. '  You  must  be  invited,  first,  before 
you  have  a  chance  to  go  in  such  society,  and 
you  are  the  first  one  that  has  invited  me  since  I 
have  been  in  America.  If  I  had  got  into  such  a 
family  as  yours  when  I  came  to  America,  and 
had  been  treated  with  such  kindness  as  by  you 
and  your  family,  I  would  have  saved  many 
dollars,  and  whisky  would  not  have  the  upper 
hand  of  me  nor  control  my  actions.' 

"  *  And  do  you  think  you  could  quit  drinking 
whisky,  if  you  were  to  try?'  I  asked. 

" '  I  will  not  promise,'  he  answered,  '  because 
I  might  fail;  but  one  thing  I  can  say,  I  have  not 
drank  a  drop  since  the  day  you  kindly  invited 
me,  and  it  is  not  likely  that  I  will  as  long  as  I 
mingle  with  your  family.' 

"  I  am  experimenting  now  with  a  Frenchman, 
and  will,  if  you  wish  me,  inform  you  of  the  re- 
sult." 

"Do  so,  by  all  means,"  said  Mr.  Walker;  "I 


218  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

am  very  much  interested  in  the  noble  work  you 
have  begun,  and  which  has  proved  so  satisfac- 
tory already." 

"  I  wish  you  would  find  a  leisure  hour  and 
come  and  spend  an  evening-  with  us." 

"Thank  you,  I  will  do  so  at  the  first  opportu- 
nity." 

"  But,  Mr.  Walker,  time  rolls  on,  and  I  must 
be  off  this  minute."  Shaking  the  offered  hand, 
he  bade  him  good  day. 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.      219 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

"  This  is  the  last  game  you  get  out  of  me  to- 
day. To  lose  five  in  succession  is  enough  to 
make  a  preacher  swear."  So  saying,  the  speaker 
threw,  the  billiard  cue  he  held  in  his  hand  heavily 
on  the  cushion,  and  turning,  he  said,  "  Come  on, 
men,  let's  have  it." 

The  men,  five  or  six  in  number,  followed  the 
speaker,  and  were  soon  standing  in  front  of  the 
counter,  in  Uncle  Nick's  bar-room. 

"  Have  you  lost  it  again,  Mr.  Welch  ?"  said 
Uncle  Nick  to  the  speaker,  who  was  no  less  a 
personage  than  Mr.  Henry  Welch,  the  Treasu- 
rer, ordering  the  drinks.  "  You  have  been  very- 
unlucky  to-day." 

"  I  have  been  very  unlucky  all  this  week,"  he 
replied.  "  These  fellows  have  fleeced  me  out  of 
at  least  two  hundred  dollars  in  poker,  and  got 
every  treat  on  to  me  besides.  Oh,  they  have  no 
conscientious  scruples  against  cheating  a  dying 
Christian  out  of  the  sacrament." 

"  You  don't  accuse  us  of  cheating,"  remarked 


220  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

one  of  the  company,  as  he  glanced  mischievously 
from  one  to  another. 

"  Oh,  no,  not  at  all.  You  are  perfect  saints, 
all  of  you.  It  is  only  a  pity  you  did  not  live  in 
the  age  of  wonders.  Your  names  would  then 
have  been  recorded  on  the  pages  of  history  for 
turning  jack-stones  into  aces." 

"  If  you  hat  seen  dem  von  tay  last  week,  Mr. 
Welch,"  remarked  Uncle  Nick,  "you  would  have 
tought  dey  could  durn  figs  into  crab-apples." 

"What  did  they  do,  Uncle  Nick?"  asked  Mr. 
Welch. 

"  Dey  blayed  mit  a  commercial  drabbler.  De 
feller  stacked  his  whole  pile.  Four  aces,  he 
cried,  put  ven  he  laid  dem  on  de  dable,  der  vas 
only  dree  unt  a  duce.  De  feller  raved  unt 
caved  ;  he  swore  he  helt  four  in  his  hant,  unt  by 
some  hocus  pocus  von  vas  changed.  Dey  dit 
not  leave  de  poor  feller  enough  do  pay  for  his 
drinks  unt  board,  but  graciously  loaned  him  vive 
tollars  to  help  him  along." 

"  Oh,  get  out,  Uncle  Nick,"  remarked  one  of 
the  men.  "  The  whole  affair  is  not  worth  talk- 
ing about.  The  poor  devil  did  not  have  but  a 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  But  I  did  not  pity 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  221 

him,  because  he  was  so  anxious  to  play,  and 
thought  himself  so  smart." 

"  I  dought  he  felt  very  cheap  ven  he  left,"  in- 
terrupted Uncle  Nick,  shaking  himself  with 
laughter. 

"Take  hold,  men,  and  don't  have  the  bar- 
keeper waiting."  And  so  saying,  Mr.  Welch 
filled  his  glass  and  passed  the  bottle  to  the  next. 
After  all  were  refreshed,  another  game  was  pro- 
posed, but  Mr.  Welch  declined,  saying,  he  had 
enough  for  to-day. 

"  You  are  not  going  to  give  it  up  dat  vay, 
mitout  having  revenge !  Dat  vill  never  to  for 
a  man  like  you,  Mr.  Welch.  Dem  fellers  will 
prag  unt  dell  every  potty  of  having  packed  you 
out,"  said  Uncle  Nick,  affecting  surprise. 

"  Will  you  go  my  halfers,  if  I  lose  ?"  was  Mr. 
Welch's  reply  to  Uncle  Nick's  remark. 

"  Go  your  halfers !"  repeated  Uncle  Nick. 
"Go  our  County  Treasurer's  halfers  if  he 
loses  !"  he  continued,  "  veil  if  dot  don't  peat  me. 
A  man  dot  can  put  his  hant  on  dousands  of  dol- 
lars any  dime  he  wants  to,  have  cheek  enough 
to  ask  a  poor  saloon  keeper,  who  scarcely  makes 
enough  to  keep  soul  unt  pody  togeder  to  go 
his  halfers!" 


222  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

"The  money  you  speak  of,  Uncle  Nick,"  re- 
marked Mr.  Welch,  "don't  do  me  any  good. 
It  belongs  to  the  people.  I  am  only  its  keeper 
and  guardian." 

"Exactly.  I  understand  dese  dings,"  said 
Uncle  Nick,  laughingly.  "  You  keeps  de  money 
for  der  beebles,  unt  stant  guard  ober  it  mit  a  big 
sword  in  your  hant,  put  you  get  bay  for  all  dis, 
unt  ven  you  put  your  hant  in  de  money  bag 
jhust  do  like  de  millers  ven  dey  dakes  doll,  unt 
you  be  sure  unt  not  cheat  yourself." 

"  Uncle  Nick  judges  every  one  by  himself," 
interposed  one  of  the  men.  "  He  did  not  forget 
to  get  his  pay  the  night  we  were  playing  with 
those  drovers.  We  drank  ten  bottles  of  New 
Jersey  cider,  and  he  charged  us  sixty  dollars  for 
twelve  bottles  of  champagne." 

"I  should  have  charged  you  dwo  hundred 
dollars  instead  of  sixty.  I  hat  to  put  all  mein 
vits  to  work  to  get  dem  fellers  into  your  net. 
You  even  never  danked  me  for  it,  unt,  by  rights, 
you  should  have  divided  mit  me." 

"  These  fellows  have  too  much  conscientious 
scruples,  Uncle  Nick,  to  divide  other  people's 
money,  which  by  chance  falls  into  their  hands," 
remarked  Mr.  Welch. 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  223 

"  Uncle  Nick  had  more  than  his  share,"  the 
first  speaker  resumed.  "  We  gave  him  two  fif- 
ties, but  he  was  smart  enough  not  to  give  us 
back  any  change,  and  the  whole  sum  we  got  out 
of  those  fellows  was  only  a  trifle,  about  five  hun- 
dred dollars." 

"  Unt  you  tink  I  would  pe  fool  enough  to  give 
you  pack  de  change  ?"  was  Uncle  Nick's  reply 
to  the  last  speaker's  remark.  "  Unt  not  get  any- 
ting  for  de  use  of  de  room,  unt  de  lights,  unt  all 
de  oder  fixings  ?  You  waits  a  long  dime  pefore 
you  finds  Uncle  Nick  to  be  dat  much  of  a  fool. 
Unt  den  you  pe  like  a  hotel  runner  ven  you  say 
you  only  got  a  leetle  over  five  hundred  dollars. 
I  know  you  rascals  got  more  dan  dree  dimes  dat 
much,  but  you  never  are  satisfied  as  long  as  you 
see  a  dollar  in  der  possession." 

"  Oh,  we  are  very  well  satisfied,  Uncle  Nick ; 
it's  you  that  can't  get  enough.  You  would 
growl  if  they  were  throwing  the  money  in  the 
chest  with  a  scoop-shovel,"  was  the  rejoinder. 
"  But,"  he  added,  "  our  conversation  has  caused 
the  barkeeper  to  go  to  sleep ;  we  had  better 
give  him  a  little  exercise,  and  as  I  had  the  good 
luck  of  not  losing  a  game  to-day,  I'll  treat  volun- 


224  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

tarily.  Uncle  Nick  shall  not  say  that  I  am 
stingy.  Come  up,  men,  what  will  you  have  ?" 

Uncle  Nick's  eyes  brightened  as  he  remarked, 
"  Charley  is  der  man  ;  dere  is  not  a  stingy  bone 
in  him.  He  lets  de  money  circulate,"  and  turn- 
ing to  the  barkeeper,  he  added,  "  de  cogniac  is 
de  best — cheap  at  dwenty  cents  a  drink,  let's 
have  from  it." 

"  We  must  let  Uncle  Nick  have  his  way,  if  we 
have  peace  in  the  family,"  remarked  one  of  the 
company,  laughingly. 

After  justice  had  been  done  to  Uncle  Nick's 
celebrated  French  importation,  the  one  ad- 
dressed as  Charley  proposed  to  play  another 
game,  but  Mr.  Welch  declined,  saying  he  ex- 
pected Mr.  Gurney  every  moment,  and  did  not 
wish  to  be  observed  by  that  gentleman  as  hav- 
ing a  hand  in  a  game. 

"  His  guardian  has  joined  de  demperance  since 
his  election,  and  Mr.  Welch  is  afraid  of  being 
chastised  should  he  be  caught  playing  mit  de 
poys.  Never  got  so  bit  in  mein  life  dan  ven  I 
voted  for  dat  feller.  You  don't  cheat  Uncle 
Nick  after  dis." 

"  And  you  just  let  Arthur  Gurney  alone,  if 
you  please.  There  is  not  a  finer  young  man  in 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  225 

the  city  than  this  lad ;  with  a  heart  as  big  as  a 
bushel,  and  not  a  stingy  bone  in  him." 

"  But  he  is  demperance,"  put  in  Uncle  Nick, 
somewhat  angrily,  "  he  has  never  come  in  my 
saloon  since  de  evening  pefore  de  election." 

"  Well,  he  will  be  here  this  evening,  and  if 
you  can  listen  a  few  moments  without  interrupt- 
ing me,  I  will  tell  you  the  reason  why  he  has  not 
been  here,"  said  Mr.  Welch ;  and  after  Uncle 
Nick's  "go  on,"  he  continued:  "You  see,  young 
Gurney  never  drank  a  drop  of  strong  drink  in 
his  life  before  his  nomination,  and  the  first  that 
ever  passed  his  lips  was  in  this  saloon,  the  day 
after  his  nomination,  when  you  insisted  on  him 
taking  something  strong,  instead  of  the  lemon- 
ade he  ordered.  The  pledge  he  had  given  his 
mother,  not  to  drink,  once  broken,  he  got  in  the 
habit  of  using  it  freely  during  the  campaign,  and 
often  felt  its  effects.  His  mother,  who  has  been 
in  delicate  health  for  quite  a  time,  watched  him 
pretty  closely,  and  her  motherly  instincts  soon 
discovered  how  matters  stood,  and  it  worried 
her  considerably.  She  is  not  long  for  this  world. 
He  is  greatly  attached  to  her,  and  it  is  on  her 
account  that  he  quit  drinking." 

Uncle  Nick  had  listened  very  attentively,  but 


226   *  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

when  the  speaker  mentioned  woman  as  the 
cause  of  not  drinking,  his  indignation  was 
aroused,  and  he  could  keep  silent  no  longer. 
"  Vimmens !  always  vimmens  at  de  pottem  of 
de  droubles,"  he  interrupted.  "  Dese  vimmens, 
mit  der  candy,  unt  der  cakes,  unt  der  lemonade, 
unt  der  ice  cream,  der  dispepsay,  unt  de  con- 
sumpsion,  would  preak  de  coundry  up  if  dey 
could ;  unt  dey  would  die  if  der  men  would  not 
do  as  dey  dell  dem  to.  Dat's  not  de  vay  in  der 
old  coundry.  De  mans  do  as  dey  blease,  unt  de 
vimmens  must  keep  der  mouth  shut." 

When  Uncle  Nick  got  through  with  his  out- 
pourings of  righteous  indignation,  Mr.  Welch 
resumed — 

"  As  I  told  you  before,  young  Gurney  is  very 
liberal,  does  not  mind  a  treat  any  more  than 
one  of  us,  and  as  to  him  belonging  to  the  tem- 
perance, it  has  no  foundation  whatever.  In  a 
conversation  I  had  with  him  yesterday,  and  in 
which  I  slightly  hinted  that  the  saloon-keepers 
suspected  him  of  having  joined  the  temperance, 
he  told  me  what  I  have  just  related  to  you,  and, 
furthermore,  he  said  he  would  gladly  visit  sa- 
loons occasionally,  mingle  with  his  friends  and 
spend  a  dollar  or  so,  if  he  could  only  do  so  with- 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  227 

out  being  compelled  to  use  strong  drink  him- 
self." 

"  And  who  in  the  thunder  can  and  will  compel 
him  to  take  it  if  he  does  not  want  to  ?"  remarked 
several  of  the  company,  as  the  speaker  paused. 

"You  see,"  Mr.  Welch  went  on,  "Uncle  Nick 
is  to  blame  for  all  of  it.  The  first  time  that 
Gurney  came  here  he  called  for  lemonade ;  but 
no;  Uncle  Nick  could  not  rest  until  he  took 
some  of  his  forty-yard-killing  corn-juice,  that  he 
has  the  cheek  to  call  French  brandy.  The  poor 
fellow  did  not  know  any  better — thought  he  had 
to  obey,  and  took  some  of  the  sure-shot,  and  fol- 
lowed it  up  all  along  during  the  campaign ;  it's 
no  wonder  he  shuns  saloons." 

"  Uncle  Nick  what  have  you  got  to  say  against 
this  charge  ?"  was  asked  by  several  of  the  com- 
pany. 

"  Veil,  I  say  Mr.  Welch  ought  to  know  what 
kind  of  stuff  French  brandy  is.  He  has  drank 
a  barrel  of  it,  unt  is  not  dead  yet ;  unt  he  looks 
as  if  he  could  make  away  mit  another  one  pefore 
he  is  laid  away  in  his  coffin." 

A  loud  ha !  ha !  from  the  company,  at  the  ex- 
pense of  Mr.  Welch,  was  the  only  reply  to  Uncle 
Nick's  remark. 


228  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

"  And  why  do  you  object  to  him  seeing  you 
play,  Henry?"  asked  Charley. 

"  After  all  there  is  policy  in  it,"  replied  the 
former.  "I  want  to  get  him  in  the  saloons 
again,  but  I  don't  want  to  do  as  Uncle  Nick  did, 
and  spoil  the  whole  thing.  And  you  see  it 
takes,  with  a  fellow  like  him,  gentle  proceedings. 
When  he  treats  and  calls  for  soda  water  for  him- 
self, don't  say,  '  you  must  take  what  the  others 
take,'  but  give  him  his  soda  water.  If  he  calls 
for  lemonade,  make  him  a  good  glass  of  lemon- 
ade. Don't  spike  it  at  first,  and  when  you  com- 
mence, do  it  gradually,  so  he  will  not  be  aware 
of  it.  By  proper  management  we  will  get  him 
used  to  it  in  a  short  time.  The  same  tac*t  must 
be  pursued  to  get  him  to  play.  At  first,  some 
of  you  must  play  merely  to  pass  away  time ; 
after  awhile,  invite  him  to  take  part  in  it — there 
is  no  money  at  stake  and  no  treats  to  be  paid — 
it  is  a  nice  pastime,  a  very  healthy  exercise. 
He  does  not  know  anything  about  playing — 
'well,  he  can  learn,  it's  no  witchery,  it  is  very 
easy  to  comprehend/  and  the  rest  follows." 

Uncle  Nick,  who  had  listened  very  attentively, 
drew  a  long  breath  after  the  speaker  ceased,  and 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  229 

tapping  him  on  the  shoulder,  said,  "  Mr.  Welch, 
have  you  any  poys  ?" 

"  As  fortune  willed  it,  my  boys  turned  out  all 
girls,"  replied  that  gentleman  ;  "but  why,  Uncle 
Nick?" 

"  I  tink  if  you  hat  some,"  said  he,  "  unt  mit  de 
teaching  dat  you  can  give  dem,  unt  de  leetle  im- 
provement dey  have  now-a-days,  you  could  blace 
dem  ahead  of  all  de  rascals  in  de  coundry." 

A  great  laughter  followed  this  expression,  and 
was  kept  up  until  one  of  the  company  said :  "  Be 
quiet,  men,  and  put  on  a  sober  face ;  I  see  our 
hero  coming." 

"  Good  evening,  gentlemen,"  said  Mr.  Gurney, 
addressing  the  company,  as  he  entered  the  sa- 
loon. 

"  Good  evening,  Mr.  Gurney,"  repeated  half 
a  dozen  voices,  and  Uncle  Nick  continued,  as  he 
shook  the  offered  hand,  "  I  congratulate  you  on 
your  success.  I  should  have  done  so  ere  dis  hat 
you  given  me  a  chance,  but  you  never  showed 
yourself,  unt  I  tought  you  hat  joined  de  dempe- 
rance." 

"  Thank  you,  Uncle  Nick,  thank  you  ;  but  you 
must  excuse  me  for  not  calling  on  you  any 
sooner.  The  campaign  came  very  near  using 

15 


230  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

me  up,  and  I  needed  rest,  to  recruit  my  health." 
And,  turning  to  the  company,  he  added,  "  Gen- 
tlemen, will  you  please  come  up  and  take  some- 
thing with  me  ?" 

While  the  men  arranged  themselves,  and 
while,  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Gurney,  who 
called  for  lemonade,  Uncle  Nick's  cogniac  bottle 
passed  from  hand  to  hand,  the  latter  remarked, 
"  Dem  political  campaigns  is  awful  hart  on  de 
candidate's  constitution.  Every  day  dey  must 
make  speeches,  unt  every  fool  wants  to  speak 
mit  dem,  unt  shake  hants  mit  dem,  unt  dis  is 
hart  on  de  lungs  unt  hart  on  de  brains.  Dey 
never  gets  old  ;  de  only  ding  dat  keeps  dem  up 
unt  helps  dem  to  get  along  is  a  leetle  goot 
French  brandy." 

"  Gentlemen,  don't  stand  on  ceremony,"  inter- 
rupted Mr.  Gurney ;  "  I  am  somewhat  in  a  hurry, 
and  have  a  little  private  business  to  transact 
with  Uncle  Nick ;  so,  good  luck  to  all." 

He  emptied  his  glass,  and  turning  to  Uncle 
Nick,  said,  "  I  came  to  settle  our  account,  con- 
tracted on  the  last  election.  I  am  ashamed — " 

"No  'pology,"  interrupted  Uncle  Nick,  "I 
vish  it  vas  den  dimes  as  much,  unt  all  mein  cus- 
tomers as  goot  bay  as  you  are.  Jhust  valk  in 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  231 

dis  oder  room ;  noboty  disturb  us,  unt  you  con 
look  ober  de  account  yourself." 

"  That  is  not  necessary,  Uncle  Nick,"  said  Mr. 
Gurney,  "  I  never  doubted  your  honesty."  And, 
beckoning  for  Mr.  Welch  to  follow,  all  three 
disappeared. 

After  the  door  had  closed  behind  them,  Char- 
ley, with  a  roguish  smile,  remarked,  "  We  will 
have  some  feathers  from  this  bird  after  awhile." 


232  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

"  Mr.  Proctor,  you  are  evidently  not  very  well 
pleased  with  Adelia's  suitor,  to  judge  from  the 
manner  in  which  you  act.  I  think  it  would  have 
shown  a  little  more  respect  if  you  had  gone  out 
with  me  to  see  them  start,  instead  of  lying 
on  the  divan  reading  the  papers,"  said  Mrs. 
Proctor,  entering  the  parlor,  where  her  husband 
was.  She  was,  apparently,  not  in  the  best  of 
humor,  for  the  word  "  Mister  "  was  never  used 
by  her  except  when  a  storm  was  brewing. 

Mr.  Proctor  looked  up  from  his  paper  and 
calmly  said,  "  Well,  now,  what  have  I  done  to 
deserve  such  censure  ?" 

"  Oh,  you  need  not  look  so  innocently.  You 
scarcely  spoke  to  him  at  all,  and  the  few  words 
you  had  to  speak,  for  manners'  sake,  were  cold 
and  chilly.  I  know  that  he  must  feel  insulted 
at  such  conduct ;  and  this  is  the  way  you  act 
every  time  he  calls.  I  know  every  father  and 
mother  who  has  marriageable  daughters  would 
be  proud,  and  think  it  the  greatest  honor,  if  such 
a  man  as  Arthur  Gurney  would  pay  respect  to 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  233 

their  daughters ;  but  you,  to  judge  from  your 
actions,  would  rather  see  him  ten  miles  off  than 
in  her  presence,"  she  replied. 

"  I  cannot  recall  that  I  have  treated  Mr.  Gur- 
ney  otherwise  than  respectful,  whenever  I  came 
in  contact  with  him.  But  I  do  not  consider  him 
a  suitable  person  for  the  husband  of  my  daugh- 
ter, and  I  would  rather  intrust  her  welfare  and 
future  happiness  to  the  care  of  some  other  than 
him,"  was  Mr.  Proctor's  answer. 

"Well,  that  plainly  shows  that  you  are  preju- 
diced against  him.  He  is  from  an  exceedingly 
good  family,  and  I  have  heard  it  said  his  father 
was  one  of  the  foremost  men  in  our  city.  His 
mother  is  a  devoted  Christian,  respected  by  all 
who  know  her.  His  sister  and  brother-in-law 
move  in  the  highest  circle  of  society,  and  what 
he  is  can  be  judged  from  the  fact  that  the  people 
honor  him  every  year  or  so  with  higher  positions 
in  public  life.  And  I  am  told  he  is  one  of  the 
best  judges  of  law  in  the  State.  He  was  scarcely 
of  age  when  he  was  elected  Prosecuting  Attor- 
ney, and  now,  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight,  he  is 
one  of  our  leading  men  in  the  State  Senate.  It 
is  said  his  father  was  quite  wealthy,  and  when 
the  property  was  divided  the  homestead  fell  to 


234  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

Arthur.  The  widow,  his  mother,  who  lies  now 
very  low  with  consumption,  and  hourly  expected 
to  die,  is  making  her  home  with  her  daughter,  - 
Mrs.  Emmit.  Now,  taking  all  these  things  into 
consideration,  where  could  you  find  a  more  suit- 
able person  for  our  daughter  ?" 

Mrs.  Proctor  grew  warmer  and  warmer,  as 
she  related  all  the  good  qualities  of  Mr.  Gurney 
to  her  husband,  and  when  she  had  finished, 
looked  defiantly  at  her  husband  for  a  reply. 

"  Oh,  what  you  say  is  all  well  enough,  and  no 
doubt  true.  But  riches  and  high  station  in  life 
are  not  all  that  are  wanting  to  make  married 
life  happy.  There  are  other  considerations  we 
must  not  overlook,  and  the  most  important  of 
these  are,  will  there  be  a  mutual  feeling  of  love ; 
will  the  husband  treat  his  wife  with  kindness  and 
respect,  and  will  he  make  home  pleasant  and 
cheerful  ?" 

"  A  man  who  thinks  as  much  of  his  mother  as 
I  am  told  Mr.  Gurney  does  of  his,  will  always  be 
kind  and  loving  to  his  wife." 

"  And  will,  perhaps,"  interrupted  Mr.  Proctor, 
"just  as  often  break  the  promises  he  gives  his 
wife,  as  he  has  broken  those  he  gave  his  mother." 

"  And  what  were  the  promises  he  gave  his 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  235 

mother  that  he  violated  ?  And  from  what  source 
do  you  derive  your  information  ?"  angrily  asked 
his  wife. 

"  I  have  it  from  the  best  of  authority,  which  I 
have  no  right  to  mention,  that  he  promised  his 
mother,  time  and  time  again,  that  he  would  quit 
drinking ;  and  as  often  as  he  promised  he  vio- 
lated it.  He  has  been  for  weeks,  sometimes,  on 
sprees ;  and  it  has  not  been  so  very  long  since 
I  saw  him,  with  my  own  eyes,  intoxicated.  Nor 
is  this  all:  he  also  has  acquired  a  habit  of 
gambling,  and  has,  I  am  told,  already  squandered 
considerable  of  the  estate  he  got  from  his  father. 
Now,  with  such  facts  before  me,  will  it  be  safe 
to  trust  my  child  in  his  keeping  ?" 

A  pause  ensued ;  but  after  a  short  silence, 
Mrs.  Proctor  resumed — 

"  Dear  husband,  you  know  how  some  people 
are  in  this  world,  especially  when  a  gentleman 
of  wealth  and  position  pays  his  respects  to  a  poor 
girl,  and  they  think  it  would  result  in  a  mar- 
riage ;  they  will  tell  a  thousand  stories  to  break 
it  up  if  they  can,  and  I  think  this  is  the  way  they 
try  to  do  with  Mr.  Gurney  and  Adelia.  I  have 
no  doubt  that  Mr.  Gurney  drinks  a  glass  occa- 
sionally. They  tell  me  his  father  drank  his  glass 


236  NICK  TUTZEL;  OR 

every  day,  never  was  drunk  in  his  life,  and  was 
one  of  the  best  business  men  in  the  city.  It  is 
not  likely  the  son  of  such  a  man  will  go  astray ; 
and  it  is  not  likely  the  people  would  elevate  him 
to  higher  positions  in  public  life  every  year  or 
so,  if  he  had  thrown  himself  away  drinking  or 
associating  with  gamblers.  It's  nothing  but 
envy  that  circulates  these  stories,  to  break  up 
what  they  fear  will  be  a  marriage.  Now  every 
one  of  those  big-bugs  want  the  position  for  their 
own  daughters,  and  it  hurts  them  to  think  that  a 
poor  candy-maker's  daughter  stands  the  best 
chance,  and  will  soon  be  the  foremost  lady  in  the 
city.  But  they  will  be  fooled,  and  that  badly, 
too,  because  I  know  Mr.  Gurney  loves  her,  and 
she  will  make  him  a  good  wife.  They  may  do 
all  they  can,  it  will  not  do  them  any  good,  for 
Adelia  is  ahead  in  the  race,  and  she  will  carry 
off  the  prize." 

"  I  would  rather,"  said  Mr.  Proctor,  "  my 
daughter  would  marry  a  poor  candy-maker,  like 
myself,  than  to  marry  a  drinking  man,  and  sell 
her  peace  and  happiness  for  money  and  a  station 
in  life.  But  when  women  have  their  heads  set, 
they  will  not  listen  to  argument  or  reason,  and 
generally  carry  out  their  object,  be  it  for  good 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  237 

or  bad,  and  of  course,  you  and  your  daughter, 
I'm  afraid,  will  make  no  exception  to  this  rule ; 
and  it  would  be  useless  for  me  to  strive  against 
it.  I  only  hope  that  I  am  wrong  and  you  are 
right,  and  that  you  will  never  have  reason  to  re- 
gret it." 

"  No ;  I  think  that  day  will  never  come,"  Mrs. 
Proctor  replied.  "  And  now,  as  I  see  you  are 
in  a  little  better  humor,"  she  continued,  "  I  will 
tell  you  that  they  are  promised,  and  I  think 
when  they  come  back  from  their  ride  he  will 
ask  you  for  her  hand." 

Mr.  Proctor  showed  no  surprise  at  hearing 
this  news ;  it  was  as  if  he  expected  it.  He  was 
a  man  not  given  to  very  many  words,  and  was 
very  careful  in  his  conversation.  With  a  large 
family  to  support — several  children,  the  oldest 
Adelia — and  with  a  small  income,  derived  from 
the  manufacture  of  candy,  which  he  carried  on 
on  a  small  scale,  it  kept  him  pretty  busy  to  make 
both  ends  meet.  But,  being  very  industrious 
and  temperate  in  his  habits,  he  managed  to  have 
every  thing  comfortable,  and  even  a  little  luxury 
about  his  house.  Mrs.  Proctor  was  in  every 
respect  a  worthy  housewife,  a  good  mother,  and 
a  great  assistance  to  her  husband.  She  was,  as 


238  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

most  women  would  have  been,  proud  of  Adelia's 
matchless  beauty.  When  Arthur  Gurney,  the 
most  honored  of  all  the  young  men,  began  to 
pay  his  addresses  to  the  young  lady,  she  did  all 
that  a  mother's  ingenuity  in  such  matters  is  ca- 
pable of  doing,  to  bring  it  to  a  successful  issue. 
The  task  was  not  an  easy  one,  for  the  support 
and  co-operation  she  expected  from  her  husband 
failed,  and  she  had  to  rely  on  her  own  resources. 
But  she  overcame  all  obstacles,  and  when  she 
informed  her  husband  that  Mr.  Gurney,  on  his 
return,  would  probably  ask  him  for  Adelia's 
hand,  her  countenance  expressed  an  air  of  tri- 
umph, clearly  indicating  that  the  work  was  hers. 
Adelia,  our  heroine,  was  eighteen  years  old, 
and,  as  we  have  said,  of  matchless  beauty.  This, 
with  a  queenly  carriage,  attracted  the  attention 
of  all.  It  brought  many  admirers,  and  made  her 
a  good  many  more  enemies,  especially  among 
mothers  and  their  marriageable  daughters.  She 
had  no  superfluous  education  ;  neither  was  there 
any  extraordinary  talent,  will,  or  force  of  mind 
perceptible.  She  was  open-hearted,  and  with 
the  exception  of  a  little  vanity — caused  more  by 
the  teachings  of  her  mother  than  her  own  incli- 
nation— without  any  noticeable  faults.  She  was 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  239 

endowed  with  all  the  qualities  necessary  to  make 
a  loving  wife  and  mother.  But  she  lacked  those 
sometimes  so  much  needed — fascination,  will, 
and  power.  Such  a  young  lady,  although  not 
perfect,  was  a  rare  prize,  and  well  worth  contend- 
ing for,  which  many  worthy  young  men  tried  in 
vain,  before  Mr.  Gurney  was  crowned  with  suc- 
cess. 

Six  years  have  passed  since  our  story  began, 
and  we  first  made  the  acquaintance  of  Arthur 
Gurney,  when  a  candidate  for  Prosecuting  Attor- 
ney. But  this  short  time  has  made  great 
changes.  His  honesty,  talent,  eloquence,  and, 
above  all,  his  boundless  liberality,  has  made  him 
numerous  friends,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
eight  we  find  him  the  acknowledged  leader  of 
his  party  in  the  State  Senate,  with  a  bright  fu- 
ture before  him  and  all  the  chances  in  his  favor. 

About  three  years  before  his  father  was 
thrown  from  a  buggy,  by  a  runaway  horse,  and 
received  injuries  from  which  he  shortly  after 
died,  leaving  a  will  by  which  his  property,  which 
was  thought  to  be  considerable,  was  to  be 
equally  divided  between  his  two  children  and 
the  widow. 

The  death  of  her  husband  was  a  severe  blow 


240  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

to  Mrs.  Gurney,  who  had  been  for  years  in  very 
delicate  health.  She  grew  weaker  every  day, 
and  finally  consented  to  her  daughter's  entrea- 
ties to  give  up  housekeeping  and  live  with  her. 
She  was  a  great  sufferer,  not  alone  bodily,  but 
also  in  mind.  For  her  child,  her  only  son,  she 
knew  had  not  kept  the  promises  he  had  so  often 
given  her,  and  was  on  the  path  to  destruction. 
When  she  heard  of  his  attachment  to  Adelia, 
and  upon  inquiry  found  that  the  young  lady  was 
worthy  of  her  son's  affection,  she  rather  encou- 
raged it,  thinking  that  what  the  mother  had 
failed  to  accomplish  might  be  done  by  the  wife. 
There  is  no  great  difficulty  in  bringing  mat- 
ters to  a  successful  issue  where  parties  inter- 
ested are  all  of  one  mind ;  but  in  this  case  there 
was  a  formidable  opposition,  and  it  came  from 
a  source  least  expected,  namely,  from  Mr.  Proc- 
tor, the  father  of  the  young  lady.  All  the  per- 
suasive power  at  Mrs.  Proctor's  command  had 
failed  to  bring  him  to  terms,  so  she  resolved  to 
try  a  more  powerful  weapon.  And  when  she 
opened  her  battery  to-day,  it  was  soon  made 
manifest  that  the  enemy  wavered  under  her  fire  ; 
and  when  she  forced  him  to  say,  "  It  would  be 
useless  for  me  to  strive  against  it,"  she  knew  re- 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  241 

sistance  was  at  an  end,  and  her  victory  com- 
plete. But,  like  a  wise  General,  she  followed 
up  her  success,  and  laid  her  plans  for  the  future. 
"  Dear  husband,"  she  said,  in  her  usual  sweet 
tone,  "  did  you  never  notice  Adelia  when  dressed 
in  white  ?  I  think  it  becomes  her  so  much  bet- 
ter than  colors ;  and  of  course  she  should  be 
married  in  what  suits  her  best.  I  know  that 
white  satin  is  very  costly,  and  that  we  are  in 
limited  circumstances ;  but  when  off  our  hands 
she  is  off  our  expenses,  and  we  should  do  our 
best  to  make  her  wedding  outfit  to  correspond 
with  the  high  society  in  which  she  moves.  I 
was  shopping  yesterday,  and  priced  some  of 
those  goods,  and  I  think  we  can  fit  her  out  in  a 
very  handsome  bridal  dress,  trimmings  and  all, 
for  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and  say 
two  hundred  for  traveling  and  dinner  dresses, 
bonnets,  ties,  gloves,  collars,  cuffs,  and  many 
other  little  things  she  will  need,  and  you  have 
the  sum  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  Oh, 
don't  look  so  frowny,"  she  continued,  stroking 
his  brow,  as  a  cloud  seemed  gathering.  "I 
know  it  is  considerable  for  people  in  our  circum- 
stances, but,  as  I  said  before,  it  is  for  the  last 
time,  and  she  will  be  amply  able  to  repay  us." 


242  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

"  And  why  would  not  a  suit  for  twenty-five 
dollars  do  just  as  well  ?"  he  interrupted.  "  Peo- 
ple must  always  regulate  their  outlay  by  their 
income,  and  I  am  not  willing  to  throw  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars  away  when  much  less  will 
do  just  as  well,  and  that  sum  will  cost  me  the 
toil  of  many  months." 

"  Husband,"  she  pleaded,  "  you  surely  cannot 
wish  your  daughter  to  stand  before  the  altar, 
to  be  united  with  a  man  of  the  highest  family, 
who  moves  in  the  best  circles  of  society,  in  an 
inferior  bridal  dress,  where  thousands  of  eager, 
envious  eyes  are  cast  upon  her !" 

At  this  moment  a  buggy  drove  up,  stopped, 
and  a  young  gentleman  and  lady  alighted.  It 
drew  their  attention,  and  relieved  Mr.  Proctor 
from  answering.  A  moment  later  Mr.  Gurney 
and  Adelia  entered  the  parlor. 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.      243 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

"  Mother,  dear,  I  am  afraid  you  are  overdoing 
yourself.  I  will  fix  the  pillows  for  you,  and  do, 
please,  take  a  good  rest.  There  is  plenty  of 
time  yet,  and  I  know  a  little  quietness  will  re- 
fresh and  give  you  strength." 

"Perhaps  I  had  better,"  she  responded. 
"This  little  exercise  has  already  fatigued  me, 
but  a  person  has  not  a  chance  of  witnessing  a 
wedding  every  day,  especially  in  their  own 
family,  and  I  think  this  is  the  last  one  I  shall  be 
permitted  to  see,  for  I  feel  that  my  hours  are 
numbered." 

"  Mother,  dear,  don't  talk  that  way.  You 
look  better  to-day  than  you  have  for  some  time, 
and  I  think  you  will  be  permitted  to  stay  with 
us  many  years  yet." 

Mrs.  Gurney,  the  lady  addressed,  looked,  in- 
deed, better  than  she  had  for  some  time.  There 
was  a  bright  color  noticeable  on  the  sunken 
cheek,  and  an  occasional  flash  in  the  faded  eyes ; 
but  it  was  like  the  last  flash  of  a  dying  flame, 


244  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

and  no  doubt  was  caused  by  over  exertion,  for 
it  was  the  day  set  for  her  son's  wedding. 

The  shock  received  by  the  sudden  and  unex- 
pected death  of  her  husband  (which  has  already 
been  related),  told  heavily  on  her  feeble  consti- 
tution, and  the  conduct  of  her  son,  whose  habit 
of  using  intoxicating  drinks  grew  stronger  every 
day,  was  not  such  as  to  act  as  healing  ointment 
to  the  afflicted  and  grief-stricken  woman.  Not 
that  he  was  a  drunkard  or  an  habitual  drinker, 
but  he  would  take  spells  occasionally,  especially 
when  in  the  company  of  friends,  when  he  would 
forget  the  promises  given  to  his  mother,  to  ab- 
stain from  strong  drinks.  Mankind  in  general 
do  not  look  at  this  as  a  crime,  or  as  injurious  to 
a  person's  character.  On  the  contrary,  such  a 
person  is  recognized  as  of  a  liberal  disposition, 
social,  and  a  man  of  the  world. 

Such  was  the  case  with  Arthur  Gurney.  He 
was  respected  by  all,  and  was  one  among  the 
honored  of  honored  men.  But  a  mother's  eye 
looks  on  things  differently.  It  is  more  pene- 
trating, looks  deeper  into  the  future,  and  where 
others  see  nothing  but  pleasure,  happiness,  and 
peace,  she  sees  the  hidden  serpent,  and  discovers 
the  danger.  "  I  have  done  my  duty,"  she  often 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  245 

repeated,  "  and  if  he  will  continue  to  follow  the 
path  of  danger,  and  not  heed  my  warning  voice, 
he  can  blame  none  but  himself  if  it  leads  to  ruin 
and  destruction."  And  sometimes,  in  agony, 
she  would  burst  out :  "  Husband  !  husband  !  you 
led  him  into  a  path  that  is  full  of  danger.  May 
your  spirit  guide  him  so  that  he  may  accomplish 
the  journey  in  safety."  She  often  wished  that 
Arthur  would  find  a  suitable  companion  for  life, 
thinking  that  perhaps  what  a  mother  had  failed 
to  accomplish,  might  be  secured  by  a  wife.  She 
knew  him  to  be  of  a  good,  kind  disposition, 
warm-hearted,  and,  drinking  excepted,  free  from 
faults.  Would  such  a  man,  surrounded  by  a 
family,  go  astray?  Could  not  the  charming 
companionship  of  a  true,  loving  wife,  subdue  the 
passion  for  strong  drink?  Will  not  mingling 
with  his  children  at  home,  around  the  fireside, 
give  him  more  pleasure  than  the  company  of 
those  visiting  saloons  ? 

All  these  ideas  forced  themselves  from  time 
to  time  on  her  mind,  and  when  at  last  informed 
that  he  was  strongly  attached  to  a  young  lady 
of  respectability,  she  was  in  no  wise  displeased ; 
and  when  he  came  and  asked  her  consent  to 
their  union,  she  not  only  readily  gave  it,  but  re- 

16 


246  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

quested  to  see  the  young  lady.  Of  course  this 
was  complied  with,  and  ere  long  the  young  lady 
was  clasped  in  her  arms. 

"  I  have  not  many  days  to  live,"  she  said,  as 
both  stood  by  her  bedside.  "  And  I  wish  to  see 
you  united  before  I  depart  and  go  to  my  Father 
to  rest.  So,  please  don't  set  the  time  far  in  the 
future,  but  have  it  at  an  early  day.  I  know  it  is 
customary  in  our  family  for  the  wedding  to  be 
in  the  church,  or  at  the  bride's  residence,  but  as 
I  am  anxious  to  be  a  witness  to  it,  and  unable  to 
leave  my  room,  I  would  be  pleased,  if  it  could 
be  so  arranged,  to  have  it  here."  It  was  agreed 
to,  and  to-day  was  the  time  appointed. 

Of  course,  on  such  an  occasion  as  a  wedding, 
preparations  are  not  wanting — even  if  con- 
ducted as  a  private  affair — and  Annie  (Mrs. 
Gurney's  daughter,  with  whom  she  was  living), 
as  well  as  her  servants,  were  very  busy  prepar- 
ing for  the  coming  event.  Annie  was  deter- 
mined to  have  everything  in  order  and  comfort- 
able for  the  few  invited  guests.  And  even  the 
mother  gathered  together  her  little  strength  and 
desired  to  be  up,  and  a  witness  to  the  ceremony. 
Annie  had  made  her  mother's  toilet,  and  it  was 
on  this  occasion  that  she  requested  her  to  rest, 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  247 

for  there  was  plenty  of  time — meaning  for  the 
wedding-party  to  arrive. 

"  Oh,  she  is  such  a  beauty,"  she  said,  after 
complying  with  Annie's  request.  "  And  I  have 
no  doubt  she  is  equally  pure  and  good.  No, 
no,  he  cannot  resist  such  charms.  I  only  saw 
her  once,  but  that  satisfied  me  that  my  son  could 
not  have  made  a  better  choice." 

"  She  is  very  lovely,  indeed,"  remarked  Annie, 
"  and  carries  herself  so  gracefully,  and  her  coun- 
tenance is  so  frank  and  open.  If  she  has  not 
the  power  to  break  him  of  his  habits,  I  don't 
think  any  one  can." 

"  Well,  we  must  hope  for  the  best,"  responded 
the  mother,  "  and  pray  to  God  for  assistance." 

"  Now,  mother,  take  a  little  of  this  strengthen- 
ing cordial,  it  will  assist  you  greatly ;  and  then, 
if  you  can  dispense  with  me  a  little  while,  I  will 
go  and  see  if  everything  is  in  proper  order  for 
the  reception  of  the  guests." 

So  saying,  she  gently  raised  the  head  of  the 
patient,  and  held  the  cup  with  its  contents  to  her 
lips.  She  drank  but  little,  and  as  her  head  sank 
back  on  the  pillow,  she  said,  in  a  scarcely  audible 
voice,  "  Go,  my  daughter.  Have  no  delay,  or  it 
may  be  too  late." 


248  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

Annie  silently  hurried  away.  Parlor,  dining- 
room  and  kitchen  proved  her  orders  promptly 
executed,  and  everything  in  readiness  for  the 
reception  of  the  bridal  party.  She  was  gone 
but  a  few  minutes.  She  knew  her  mother  was 
somewhat  excited,  and  she  wished  to  be  with 
her,  to  soothe  and  pacify  her.  But  just  at  the 
moment  she  entered  the  sick  chamber,  now  beau- 
tifully decorated  for  the  solemn  occasion,  the 
rattling  of  wheels  told  her  that  the  party  had 
arrived.  The  quick  ear  of  the  mother,  too,  took 
note  of  it,  and  before  Annie  had  time  to  speak 
she  beckoned  her  to  go  to  the  window  and  see. 

"  Yes,"  said  Annie,  "  they  have  arrived.  Ed- 
ward is  there  to  receive  them.  I  told  Arthur 
that  perhaps  I  would  be  at  the  bedside,  with 
mother,  on  their  arrival,  and  so  my  absence  will 
be  accounted  for." 

"  Has  the  minister  arrived,  Annie?"  whispered 
the  mother. 

"  No,  not  yet."  And  looking  at  the  clock,  she 
added,  "  it  is  fifteen  minutes,  yet,  of  the  time." 

"  Oh,  time  moves  so  slow,  to-day.  I  wish  it 
was  at  an  end."  Annie  noticed  that  her  anxiety 
increased. 

At  this  moment  another  carriage  came  sud- 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  249 

denly  to  a  stop.  Annie  hurried  to  the  window, 
and  announced  to  her  mother  that  the  minister 
had  arrived. 

"I  flattered  myself  that  I  would  be  strong 
enough  to  exchange  my  bed  for  a  chair,  during 
the  marriage.  I  overrated  my  strength,  and 
will  be  thankful  if  I  am  permitted  to  see  from 
here.  Hurry,  Annie,  don't  delay  a  moment,  for 
life  is  fast  fading  away."  She  folded  her  hands, 
as  if  in  prayer. 

Annie,  frightened  at  her  mother's  words,  ran 
to  make  known  her  wishes,  and  to  obey  her  or- 
ders. 

When  the  door  had  closed,  the  mother  par- 
tially opened  her  eyes,  and  whispered,  "  Lord, 
Heavenly  Father,  I  am  prepared,  but  may  I  not 
be  permitted  to  see  this  which  my  heart  has 
longed  for?  Yet,  not  my  will,  but  Thine,  be 
done." 

Annie  returned,  said  that  all  was  in  readiness, 
and  asked  if  they  should  be  shown  in. 

"  Immediately,"  was  the  scarcely  audible  reply. 

Silently  they  entered,  and  took  their  seats  as 
previously  arranged.  Not  a  word  was  spoken. 
It  was  a  holy  stillness,  and  all  eyes  were  cast 
toward  the  mother.  It  was  only  for  a  moment. 


250  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

She  beckoned,  with  her  withered  hand,  the 
young  couple  to  her.  When  they  stood  by  her 
side,  she  took  from  one  of  her  fingers  a  plain, 
gold  ring,  and  while  she  put  it  on  the  finger  of 
the  bride,  said — 

"  Take  this  as  the  gift  of  a  mother.  It  is  an 
heir-loom  in  our  family,  and  is  said  to  possess 
many  virtues.  May  it  impart  some  to  you." 
She  then  requested  the  minister  to  proceed. 

A  short,  earnest  prayer  after  the  ceremony 
was  over,  was  offered  by  the  minister,  and  when 
the  word  "  Amen  "  fell  from  his  lips,  the  patient 
raised  her  head  from  the  pillow  and  gave  the 
closest  attention  to  the  entire  proceedings  ;  but 
she  sank  back  again,  and  in  a  low  whisper  re- 
peated the  last  word. 

A  silent  congratulation  followed,  and  all  ex- 
cepting the  young  couple  retired  to  the  parlors. 

Arthur  and  his  wife  stood  silently  by  the  side 
of  the  mother,  waiting  to  receive  her  blessing. 
She  seemed  as  if  asleep,  and  unconscious  of  her 
surroundings.  It  was  only  for  a  few  moments, 
and  her  eyes  opened.  When  she  saw  the  happy 
young  couple  by  her  side,  she  summoned  all  her 
strength,  and  with  the  assistance  of  Arthur, 
raised  herself  in  bed.  Taking  the  hand  of  the 


I  will  die  a  sober  man.' 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  253 

young  wife,  and  looking  her  in  the  face,  she 
whispered,  with  a  smile  on  her  lips,  "  My  work 
is  done.  God  has  granted  me  the  privilege  of 
seeing  what  my  heart  has  longed  for — my  son 
by  the  side  of  a  true,  virtuous,  and  noble  wife. 
May  God  bless  you  and  your  posterity;  and 
may  your  charms  and  love  accomplish  that  in 
which  a  mother  has  failed." 

She  paused  for  a  moment  as  if  to  gain 
strength ;  and  then  casting  her  eyes  toward  her 
son,  and  taking  his  hand  in  one  of  hers,  she  con- 
tinued, "  Arthur,  I  forgive  you  all.  And  I  do  not 
ask  you  for  another  promise;  but  remember  the 
words  of  the  Holy  Scripture :  '  No  drunkard 
shall  enter  the  kingdom  of  Heaven.' " 

Deeply  agitated,  and  moved  to  tears,  the 
young  man  sank  on  his  knees,  and  with  a  plead- 
ing look  cast  toward  his  mother,  he  said,  "  No, 
you  cannot  believe  me  any  more.  But  here,  on 
my  knees,  I  will  give  the  pledge  to  my  Maker, 
that  I  will  die  a  sober  man." 

"  God  bless  you,"  she  whispered,  a  brightness 
lighting  up  her  countenance.  "  They  are  calling 
me  !  God  bless  you  all."  Her  hands  loosened 
their  grasp.  Her  spirit  had  taken  its  flight — 
she  was  dead! 


254  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

"  Oh,  dear !  What  a  dreadful  stormy  night 
this  is  going  to  be.  The  wind  is  increasing,  and 
it  rains  harder  than  it  did  an  hour  ago.  I  pro- 
mised Adelia  that  I  would  come  after  supper, 
and  stay  with  her  until  you  closed  the  store. 
The  poor,  broken-hearted  woman  is  frightened 
nearly  to  death,  and  feels  so  lonely.  She  burst 
into  tears  when  I  left  her  this  morning,  and  in  a 
heart-rending  voice,  which  brought  tears  to  my 
eyes,  she  said,  '  Oh,  that  my  spirit  could  be  with 
that  of  his  mother !'  But  I  do  not  know  how  I 
will  get  there.  Perhaps  time  will  permit  you  to 
take  me  in  your  buggy." 

"  I  am  always  at  your  service,  dear  Annie,  and 
I  would  gladly  comply  with  your  request  if  I 
thought  the  weather  suitable  for  a  woman  to  be 
out  who  has  just  recovered  from  a  long  illness. 
But  I  will  not  leave  Adelia  and  the  children  to 
themselves.  I  will  go  immediately  after  supper, 
and  bring  them  over  here  to  stay  with  us,  for  I 
fear  the  worst  has  come." 

"What  do  you  mean,  Edward?     Has  any- 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  255 

thing  happened?  Did  you  hear  anything?" 
All  these  questions,  and  a  good  many  more, 
were  asked,  without  waiting  for  a  reply  to  any 
of  them,  by  the  anxious  woman. 

"  Don't  look  so  scared.  After  all,  I  may  be 
mistaken,  and  if  my  fears  should  be  well 
grounded,  we  cannot  help  it.  Come,  sit  down, 
and  I  will  tell  you." 

"  Mr.  Walker  came  to  me  this  morning,  and 
wished  to  speak  to  me  a  few  minutes  in  private. 
We  retired  to  my  office,  and  after  we  were 
seated,  he  said,  '  Mr.  Emmit,  I  hope  that  what  I 
have  to  say  will  not  be  considered  as  meddling 
in  private  or  family  affairs.  I  do  it  out  of  regard 
to  you  and  your  family,  and,  I  trust,  for  the  good 
of  one  whom  I  honor  and  respect.' 

"  He  paused  for  a  moment,  as  if  to  seek  in  my 
countenance  the  effect  his  words  would  produce, 
and  then  went  on  :  '  Have  you  not  noticed  that 
your  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Gurney,  is  drinking 
very  hard  of  late  ?' 

"  We  cannot  be  ignorant  of  the  fact  when  we 
see  a  man  under  the  influence  of  liquor  every 
day,"  I  answered. 

" '  And  do  you  not  fear  it  will  turn  into  some- 


256  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

thing  worse,  after  awhile  ?'  said  he,  looking  me 
inquiringly  in  the  face. 

"  I  evaded  a  direct  answer,  and  said,  we  are 
getting  used  to  his  sprees,  although  it  almost 
breaks  our  hearts.  All  our  efforts  to  keep  him 
from  it  have  failed.  The  pleadings  of  a  mother 
fell  on  deaf  ears ;  the  entreaty  of  a  sister  was 
without  effect,  and  even  the  charms  of  his  most 
beautiful,  loving  wife,  could  not  enchant  him 
and  keep  him  away  from  the  fatal  cup.  We 
must  let  it  have  its  time  and  run  its  course  I 
think  after  the  election  he  will  straighten  up 
again,  and  quit  drinking  for  a  while,  at  least." 

" '  God  grant  that  he  may ;  but,  in  the  mean- 
time, Mr.  Emmit,  I  advise  you  to  have  an  eye 
on  him,  and  watch  him.  My  reason  for  giving 
you  this  advice  comes  from  observation.  I  met 
him  yesterday,  in  the  evening.  He  stopped  to 
converse,  but  I  soon  found  that  his  mind  was 
wandering.  He  got  from  one  subject  to  another, 
and  finally  did  not  seem  to  recognize  me  at  all. 
He  politely  excused  himself,  by  saying  that  he 
had  to  be  at  court  in  half  an  hour,  to  plead  a 
case.  His  strange  conduct,  and,  still  more,  his 
strange,  unnatural  look,  satisfied  me  that  all  was 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  257 

not  right,  and  I  resolved  to  see  you  and  bring  it 
to  your  notice. 

" '  This  is  all,  Mr.  Emmit,  I  have  to  say,  and 
I  hope  my  words  have  given  no  offence.' 

"  Not  at  all,  I  said.  On  the  contrary,  I  am 
under  many  obligations  to  you,  Mr.  Walker,  and 
will  look  after  this  matter  immediately." 

"  I  resolved  to  get  a  reliable  person  to  watch 
him,  and  report  to  me  should  anything  unusual 
occur." 

"  And  all  this  you  kept  silent,  never  hinting  a 
word  to  your  wife,  his  sister,"  she  interrupted. 

"Why  should  I  increase  your  anxiety,  and 
sorrow,  and  grief,  where  there  is  already  enough. 
Was  it  not  better  to  wait,  and  find  out  how  mat- 
ters stood?" 

"  And  have  you,  yourself,  or  the  man  you  en- 
gaged, observed  anything  unusual  ?" 

"  I  satisfied  myself,  with  my  own  eyes,  of  the 
truth  of  Mr.  Walker's  statement." 

Annie  was  greatly  agitated,  and  trembled  like 
an  aspen  leaf,  when  her  husband  spoke  these 
words,  but  she  composed  herself,  and  said, 
calmly — 

"  Edward,  what  have  you  concluded  to  do  in 


258  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

this  matter?  Have  you  decided  upon  a  plan 
of  action?" 

"  As  soon  as  I  found  out  how  things  stood,  I 
called  on  Mr.  Walker,  who  I  know  is  a  friend 
of  ours,  and  asked  his  advice.  We  came  to  the 
conclusion  to  have  him  watched  closely ;  have 
some  trustworthy  men  near  him  to  act  in  case 
of  emergency,  and  when  night  sets  in,  to  have  a 
carriage  at  their  disposal,  persuade  him  to  take 
a  ride,  and,  if  successful,  bring  him  to  my  house. 
I  have  made  all  the  necessary  arrangements,  and 
also  engaged  a  few  trustworthy  policemen  to 
assist  in  carrying  out  our  plan,  should  it  become 
necessary." 

Annie  listened  silently  to  every  word  of  her 
husband,  but  when  he  had  finished  her  strength 
gave  way,  and  wringing  her  hands  in  great 
agony,  she  cried,  "  Oh,  Arthur,  brother !  I  never 
would  have  thought  that  you  would  bring  such 
disgrace  upon  yourself,  and  your  wife  and 
children — on  your  sister  and  brother,  and  on 
the  memory  of  your  departed  father  and 
mother !" 

"  Dear  Annie,  don't  give  way  to  such  lament- 
ations and  grief.  It  only  injures  your  health, 
and  will  not  do  any  good.  To-day  is  election 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  259 

day,  and  on  such  a  day  a  drunken  person  is 
scarcely  noticed.  A  man  who  drinks  at  all  is 
expected  to  carry  home  an  overdose,  or  else 
have  his  name  stricken  from  the  roll  of  modern 
patriots.  We  made  our  arrangements  in  per- 
fect secrecy.  All  I  have  made  acquainted  with 
the  matter,  to  help  me  carry  out  my  plans,  are 
trustworthy,  and  silent  as  the  grave.  Nobody, 
outside  of  them,  the  doctor,  and  ourselves,  will 
have  any  knowledge  of  it." 

"  I  could  almost  wish  that  election  days  and 
political  campaigns  would  come  only  every 
twenty-five  years,  or  not  at  all.  Before  Arthur 
was  nominated  as  candidate  for  Prosecuting  At- 
torney he  never  drank  a  drop  of  spirits,  and 
perhaps  he  never  would  had  he  let  politics 
alone.  In  that  campaign  he  learned  to  drink, 
and  has  kept  it  up,  more  or  less,  ever  since. 
He  broke  the  promises  given  to  his  mother,  and 
all  the  pleadings  of  his  wife  and  sister  were  in 
vain,  and  in  this  campaign  he  has  thrown 
himself  entirely  away." 

"  And  do  you  know  the  cause  of  it  ?  Why, 
because  he  was  defeated  at  the  Convention. 
Another  got  the  nomination  of  which  he  was  so 
certain.  He  felt  very  much  humiliated,  and 


260  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

seeks  to  drown  the  memory  of  his  disappoint- 
ment with  the  soul  and  body  destroying  stuff 
called  whisky." 

"  It  calls  back  to  mind  the  words  of  our  de- 
parted mother.  She  would  often  say,  'I  fear 
more  from  disappointment  than  from  success.' 
Oh,  how  true  her  prophecy." 

"  And,  thanks  to  her  wisdom  and  sagacity,  if 
the  worst  should  come  to  pass,  the  poor  woman 
and  children  are  provided  for,  who  would,  but 
for  her,  perhaps,  be  turned  into  the  street,  beg- 
gars." 

1  With  an  inquiring  look,  she  said,  "  I  do  not 
understand  your  words,  Edward.  Will  you 
please  explain  to  me  ?" 

"  If  it  is  true,  as  I  am  told  of  late,  your 
brother  has  not  been  addicted  to  drinking,  solely, 
but  also  to  gambling,  and  is  ruined  financially,  as 
well  as  in  body  and  mind.  When  drunk,  he 
would  go  security  for  his  pretended  friends  in 
large  sums  of  money,  which  he  generally  had  to 
pay ;  or  he  would  lend  them  money  which  they 
never  intended  to  replace  or  return ;  and  what 
they  could  not  get  by  these  means  they  would 
get  by  gambling,  into  which  they  persuaded 
him.  I  was  startled  on  hearing  this,  and  re- 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  261 

solved  to  investigate,  and  see  how  much  of  it 
was  true.  I  found,  to  my  astonishment,  that  all 
the  money  he  had  in  the  bank  was  withdrawn — 
squandered,  of  course — and  his  property  heavily 
mortgaged.  If  it  had  to  be  sold  under  the  ham- 
mer, at  such  a  time  as  this,  it  would  scarcely 
bring  more  than  the  mortgages  call  for." 

"This  is  enough,  Edward,  all  I  can  bear. 
More  would  crush  me." 

At  this  moment  the  conversation  was  inter- 
rupted by  the  servant  announcing  tea.  Both 
repaired  thither. 

Four  years  had  passed  since  Arthur  Gurney 
and  Adelia  Proctor  were  united,  in  the  sick 
chamber  of  Mrs.  Gurney,  and  where,  at  the 
close  of  the  ceremony,  she  breathed  her  last. 

The  fruit  of  this  union  was  two  children, 
boys  ;  the  oldest,  David  (named  after  his  grand- 
father), was  three  years,  and  the  youngest,  Ed- 
ward (named  after  his  uncle),  was  about  four- 
teen months  of  age. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Gurney  was 
a  member  of  the  State  Senate,  and  at  the  expi- 
ration of  his  term  was  re-elected.  His  elo- 
quence, sound  judgment,  and  great  knowledge 
of  law\  soon  made  his  name  famous.  He  be- 


262  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

came  the  leader  of  his  party,  and  won  the  res- 
pect of  the  opposition.  Many  reforms  were  car- 
ried into  effect  by  his  good  judgment,  energy, 
and  perseverance;  and,  although  very  young, 
his  counsel  was  sought  by  the  oldest  of  the  pro- 
fession, and  his  name  was  familiar  to  every  citi- 
zen in  the  State.  He  almost  worshiped  his 
wife,  and  there  never  was  a  kinder  or  more  lov- 
ing father  to  his  children.  He  gave  advice  to 
all  who  sought  it,  and  none  who  asked  a  favor 
went  away  disappointed,  if  it  was  in  his  power 
to  grant  it. 

Could  it  be  *  otherwise  than  that  such  a  man 
should  be  widely  and  favorably  known  ?  Could 
it  be  otherwise  than  that  such  kindness  and  lib- 
erality should  be  often  abused  by  unprincipled 
persons,  under  the  mask  of  friendship?  All 
that  could  be  said  against  Mr.  Gurney  was  that 
he  drank,  and  occasionally  took  a  glass  too 
much.  But  of  this,  aside  from  the  family  and  a 
few  intimate  friends,  no  notice  was  taken,  for  the 
world  at  large  looks  at  it  as  customary  for  a 
man  in  public  life  to  indulge  in  a  social  glass 
with  his  friends  and  acquaintances. 

Another  political  campaign  was  close  at  hand. 
It  was  a  very  important  one.  There  were,  be- 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  263 

sides  the  usual  State  ticket,  the  members  of  Con- 
gress to  be  elected.  Mr.  Gurney  received  let- 
ters from  all  parts  of  the  district,  and  was  written 
to  by  the  most  prominent  men  of  his  party, 
urging  him  to  bring  his  name  before  the  Con- 
vention, as  a  candidate,  and  pledging  their  sup- 
port. This,  with  the  urgent  request  of  nu- 
merous friends,  would,  perhaps,  have  induced  a 
less  ambitious  man  than  Mr,  Gurney  to  comply, 
and  he  readily  consented. 

His  nomination  was  looked  upon  as  a  cer- 
tainty, and  nobody  expected  even  as  much  as  a 
respectable  opposition.  It  was,  therefore,  with 
perfect  surprise  and  astonishment  that  the  peo- 
ple received  the  news,  when,  after  the  first  bal- 
lot, and  the  votes  had  been  counted,  the  Presi- 
dent declared  Mr.  Perkins  the  nominee — he 
having  received  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  cast. 

This  news  came  to  Mr.  Gurney  and  his  friends 
like  a  thunderbolt  from  a  clear  sky.  They  all 
felt  its  effects,  but  the  fatal  stroke  was  received 
by  him.  He  was  wounded  beyond  recovery. 
His  political  career  was  crushed.  Who  will  re- 
lieve this  pain?  Who  will  stop  this  bleeding 
wound  ?  Who  will  wipe  out  the  memory  of  this 
defeat  ?  No  one,  and  nothing,  except  the  intoxi- 

17 


264  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

eating  cup  !  All  the  entreaties  and  solicitations 
of  his  wife,  his  relatives  and  friends,  were  in  vain. 
His  home  and  family,  as  well  as  his  large  prac- 
tice, was  entirely  neglected,  and  his  abode  was 
the  saloon. 

His  wife,  as  well  as  his  relatives,  comforted 
themselves  with  the  reflection  that  after  the 
election  he  would  quit  drinking,  get  reconciled 
to  his  defeat,  and  attend  to  his  business  again. 

When  Mr.  Emmit  came  home  and  related  to 
his  wife  the  news,  in  the  foregoing  conversation, 
supper,  which  was  always  accompanied  by 
half  an  hour  or  so  of  pleasant  family  chat,  was 
taken  in  perfect  silence.  Edward,  no  doubt,  not 
wishing  to  say  anything  not  positively  necessary 
which  must  be  painful  to  his  wife,  and  she,  per- 
haps, fearing  to  receive  more  unpleasant  news 
by  asking  a  question. 

At  last  he  arose,  and  as  he  walked  toward  the 
door,  she  said,  "  Edward,  are  you  going  now  ?" 

"  Yes,  Annie." 

"  And  how  will  you  broach  this  terrible  news 
to  the  heart-broken  woman  ?" 

"  I  shall  not  tell  her  the  condition  in  which  he 
is.  By  your  permission  I  will  say  that  you  re- 
quested me  to  call  and  bring  the  children  to  our 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  265 

house,  you  not  being  well  enough  to  fulfill  your 
promise." 

"  But  what  will  you  do  if  she  should  object  ?" 

"I  will  tell  her  that  I  have  made  arrange- 
ments for  Arthur  to  be  here,  and  that  he  is 
going  to  stay  all  night.  This  is  not  telling  her 
a  story,  you  know,"  he  added,  with  a  sad  smile. 

"  Well,  let's  do  and  hope  for  the  best,"  she 
said,  as  he  closed  the  door  after  him. 

The  wind  blew  very  hard,  and  drove  the  large 
drops  of  rain  with  considerable  force  on  the 
window  pane,  but  Annie  was  unconscious  of  all, 
as  she  walked  to  and  fro  in  the  parlor,  where 
she  finally  sank  exhausted  on  the  sofa,  overcome 
by  grief  and  sorrow.  Her  mind  must  have  been 
wandering,  for  she  took  no  notice  of  the  opening 
and  closing  of  the  door,  and  it  was  not  until  she 
felt  the  touch  of  a  hand,  and  a  kiss  on  her  lips, 
that  she  raised  her  eyes,  and,  with  a  cry,  "  Oh, 
Adelia !"  sank  as  if  lifeless  in  the  new  comer's 
arms.  It  was  only  for  a  few  moments,  when  the 
silence  gave  way  to  tears,  which  plainly  told  they 
understood  each  other.  At  last,  when  both  were 
calmer,  Adelia  broke  the  silence,  and  with  an 
inquiring  look,  said,  "  Is  he  here  ?" 

"He  is  not,  but  we  expect  him  shortly." 


266  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

"  I  fear  the  worst.  His  mind  was  wandering 
this  morning,  when  he  went  away,  but  I  was 
afraid,  and,  I  confess,  ashamed,  to  mention  it  to 
you.  But  when  Edward  came  after  me  I  was 
satisfied  that  you  knew  all,  and  when  asked,  Ed- 
ward confessed,  and  told  me  his  plans,  which  I 
think  were  the  best  he  could  do." 

"  I  forgot,"  interrupted  Annie,  "  to  ask  if  you 
had  your  supper." 

"Yes,  dear  sister.  The  children  have  had 
theirs,  and  I  have  no  appetite  whatever." 

"  But  I  must  insist  on  your  taking  a  cup  of 
tea  and  a  slice  of  toast.  To  be  comforted  and 
have  friends  in  the  hour  of  triaLand  affliction  is 
a  great  blessing,  but  this  will  not  keep  us  from 
sinking  under  the  burden  if  we  neglect  taking 
nourishment."  So  saying,  she  led  the  grief- 
stricken  woman  into  the  dining-room.  Here, 
over  a  cup  of  tea,  the  conversation  grew  warmer 
and  more  lively,  mostly  in  regard  to  plans  for  the 
husband  and  brother,  and  for  his  future  life. 

They  were  just  in  the  act  of  leaving  the  din- 
ing-room, when  the  servant  announced  that  a 
carriage  had  stopped.  Voices  were  heard,  and 
although  wind  and  rain  made  considerable  noise, 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  267 

yet  the  quick  ear  of  the  wife  instantly  detected 
the  voice  of  her  husband. 

"He  is  coming!  Oh,  God!"  And  despair- 
ingly clinging  to  the  arm  of  Annie,  she  followed 
her  into  the  parlor. 

A  moment  later  and  Edward  entered.  Walk- 
ing to  where  the  two  women  were  seated,  he 
calmly  said,  "  We  have  got  him  here.  Our  plan 
worked  admirably.  The  men  say  they  had  no 
difficulty  or  trouble  with  him.  The  whole  plan 
was  so  well  executed  that  nobody  except  them- 
selves knew  anything  about  the  affair;  but  they 
say  he  is  getting  worse  every  minute,  and  I  have 
already  sent  for  our  family  physician,  Dr.  San- 
bourn,  who  I  think  will  not  delay  coming,  as  I 
made  him  acquainted  with  the  whole  affair  this 
evening." 

"  May  I  be  permitted  to  see  him  ?"  asked 
Adelia,  in  a  scarcely  audible  voice,  and  trembling 
from  head  to  foot. 

"  I  would  not  advise  you  to,  and  would  rather 
you  would  wait  until  the  Doctor  comes  and  get 
his  advice.  We  have  made  his  room  very  com- 
fortable, and  the  man  in  attendance  will  see  to 
every  thing  necessary." 


268'  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

The  servant  announced  Dr.  Sanbourn,  and  he 
was  ushered  in. 

"We  had  better  go  and  see  the  patient  at 
once,"  said  the  Doctor,  after  the  salutations  and 
hand-shakings  were  gone  through  with.  And 
he  and  Edward  left  for  the  sick  chamber. 

They  were  gone  for  some  time,  but  during 
their  absence  not  a  word  was  spoken  by  the  two 
women  they  left  behind,  and  when  at  last  they 
returned,  both  looked  anxiously  and  inquiringly 
into  the  Doctor's  face. 

For  a  few  moments  all  were  silent,  but  at  last 
the  wife  broke  the  stillness,  and  said — 

"  Doctor,  how  is  he  ?  And  may  I  not  be  per- 
mitted to  see  him  ?" 

"  Oh,  he  is  not  so  bad  as  I  have  seen  men 
stricken  by  this  disease,  but  I  would  not  advise 
you  to  see  him  at  present;  it  may,  perhaps,  cause 
agitation,  and  produce  injury  instead  of  good." 

"  And  may  I  ask  the  nature  of  his  disease  ?" 

"  Delirium  tremens." 


269 


CHAPTER  XX. 

"  Mr.  Emmit,  I  insist  on  having  counsel  in  this 
case.  It  does  not  matter  how  many  or  who  you 
prefer,  but  I  will  not  have  the  responsibility  rest 
on  my  shoulders  should  the  case  terminate  fa- 
tally," said  Dr.  Sanbourn,  after  coming  from  the 
sick  chamber  of  Mr.  Gurney. 

"  Your  words  surprise  me,"  said  Mr.  Emmit. 
"  I  thought  I  understood  you  to  say  that  the  pa- 
tient was  getting  along  so  well  that  the  worst 
was  over,  and  you  considered  him  nearly  out  of 
danger." 

"  Exactly.  I  would  stake  my  reputation  as  a 
physician  on  his  recovery,  if  I  only  could  get 
him  to  take  the  medicine  prescribed;  but  this  he 
will  not  do,  and  there  lies  the  trouble." 

"  I  have  not  been  aware  of  that.  Is  it  dis- 
agreeable to  take  ?" 

"  I  should  not  think  it  would  be  to  him ;  he  has 
taken  a  good  deal  of  it  in  his  life,  perhaps  not  so 
good  as  this  I  prescribe,  for  it  is  simply  the  very 
best  of  French  brandy.  But  he  ejects  it  every 
time  it  passes  his  lips." 


270  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

"  Why,  can't  his  stomach  bear  it  ?" 

"  It  don't  get  into  his  stomach.  He  declares 
that,  by  his  knowledge,  not  another  drop  shall 
pass  his  lips,  and  all  our  entreaties  are  in  vain." 

"  And  could  you  not  disguise  it,  so  it  would  be 
impossible  for  him  to  detect  it ;  or  is  there  no 
substitute  that  would  answer  the  same  purpose?" 

"  We  are  at  our  wits'  end.  We  have  tried 
everything  we  could  think  of,  but  all  to  no  pur- 
pose. He  detects  it  in  spite  of  all  our  precau- 
tion, and  ejection  is  the  result.  The  medical 
and  chemical  sciences  have  not  as  yet  given  us 
any  substitute  that  has,  in  these  cases,  the  same 
effect  as  stimulants." 

"  Well,  Doctor,  we  trusted  the  patient  in  your 
care,  and  are  well  aware  that  you  will  do  all  that 
skill  in  your  profession  can  do ;  if  you  desire 
to  have  counsel,  make  your  own  selection,  while 
I  will  counsel  with  my  wife,  his  sister,  and  with 
his  own  wife.  Perhaps  the  united  efforts  of 
both  will  have  some  effect,  and  change  his 
mind." 

"  I  only  can  wish  that  they  will  succeed,  for  a 
life  is  at  stake,  which  can  be  saved  but  by  their 
success." 

The  Doctor  took  leave  of  Mr.  Emmit,  prom- 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  271 

ising  to  be  back  in  two  hours,  to  see  what 
effect  the  persuasive  power  of  the  ladies  would 
have  on  his  patient. 

When  the  Doctor  had  left,  Edward  turned  his 
steps  toward  the  parlor,  where  the  women  were, 
and  stated  to  them  the  Doctor's  difficulty  in  re- 
gard to  Arthur  taking  the  prescribed  medicine ; 
the  Doctor's  apprehensions ;  and  his  desire  to 
have  them  see  him,  and  endeavor  to  persuade 
him  to  take  the  medicine. 

"  We  will  go  immediately,  Adelia,"  said  Annie, 
after  Edward  paused.  "And  you  had  better 
take  the  children  along,  their  presence  may 
assist  a  great  deal.' 

Adelia  silently  complied  with  the  request  of 
her  sister-in-law ;  took  little  Edward  from  the 
cradle,  where  he  was  soundly  asleep,  and  with 
little  David  led  by  the  hand  of  his  aunt,  they  re- 
paired to  the  sick  chamber  of  her  husband. 
The  man  in  attendance  understood  the  sign 
given  by  Annie,  and  silently  withdrew,  leaving 
the  women  and  children  alone  with  the  slumber- 
ing sufferer.  They  stood  by  the  side  of  the  bed, 
and  tears  filled  their  eyes  and  rolled  down  their 
cheeks.  His  sleep  seemed  natural  and  undis- 
turbed. His  countenance  pale  but  clear,  and 


272  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

no  signs  of  the  agitation  visible  which  had  re- 
quired at  several  times  the  strength  of  two  men 
to  keep  it  under  control. 

The  noise  of  little  David,  who  was  playing 
with  his  marbles,  awoke  him.  He  opened  his 
eyes ;  their  glance  fell  on  his  wife  and  sister,  and, 
in  a  weak  voice  he  uttered  their  names.  It  was 
the  first  time  since  his  sickness  that  they  were 
recognized. 

He  reached  his  hand  toward  his  wife,  which 
was  taken  and  covered  with  kisses  and  tears. 
She  bent  over  him,  and  a  moment  later  lay  sob- 
bing and  crying  on  his  breast. 

"Oh,  Arthur,  you  will  be  well  again.  I  will 
be  with  you,  nurse  you,  and  comfort  you ; 
nothing  will  I  leave  undone  for  your  speedy  re- 
covery. Come,  papa,  have  you  no  kiss  for  little 
Edward — and  here  is  David;  papa  must  give 
him  one,  too ;"  and  the  poor  woman  laughed 
and  cried  alternately,  through  love  and  joy. 
Oh,  who  can  fathom  a  true  woman's  love ! 

"  May  God  bless  and  reward  you  for  all  the 
love  you  have  bestowed  on  me,  who  am  un- 
worthy of  it." 

She  silenced  him  with  a  kiss,  and  said,  "  Do 
not  talk  that  way,  Arthur.  I  know  you  love  me; 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  273 

you  are  not  unworthy  of  me,  and  I  am  proud  of 
you." 

But  he  continued,  as  if  taking  no  notice  of 
what  she  said,  "  And  oh,  dear  wife,  you  whom  I 
have  so  often  deceived,  will  you — can  you  for- 
give me  ?  Forgive  me  for  the  grief,  sorrow,  and 
pain  I  have  caused  you  ?  And  you,  Annie,  dear 
sister,  can  you  forgive  and  forget  the  disgrace  I 
have  brought  on  yourself  and  family  ?" 

"  Dear  brother,  we  have  all  forgiven  you,  and 
you  must  not  think  any  more  about  it.  You 
had  your  trials  and  troubles,  as  well  as  us.  Let 
us  bury  them  together.  Let  us  commence  life 
anew.  But  we  forget  all  about  your  medicine," 
she  continued,  as  she  looked  at  the  clock,  and 
then,  with  a  significant  glance,  at  Adelia. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  latter,  as  she  walked  toward 
the  table  on  which  was  standing  a  bottle  of 
medicine  left  by  Dr.  Sanbourn  for  the  patient, 
and  labeled  'a  tablespoonful  every  hour,  and 
an  equal  quantity  of  water.'  She  took  it,  filled 
the  spoon,  poured  the  contents  in  a  glass  that 
was  standing  by,  and  was  just  in  the  act  of 
measuring  out  the  water,  when  her  husband 
called  her  to  his  side. 

His  hand  trembled  as  he  took  hers  and  said, 


274  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

"  Dear  wife,  do  not  hand  it  to  me,  I  cannot  take 
it." 

"  I  know,  dear,  medicines  are  not  very  agree- 
able to  take,  but  this  will  strengthen  you,  the 
Doctor  said.  You  will  take  it,  for  my  sake," 
she  pleaded.  "  I  know  you  will  not  refuse  your 
wife." 

"  Dearest  wife,  it  is  hard  for  me  to  refuse  you 
anything,  and  I  will  do  all  in  my  power  to  atone 
for  the  many  painful  hours  and  sleepless  nights 
I  have  caused  you.  But  please  do  not  insist  on 
my  taking  this  medicine ;  I  cannot — I  dare  not 
do  it." 

"  Why,  dear  ?  Perhaps  I  can  prepare  it  so  it 
will  taste  better,  by  adding  a  little  sugar." 

"I  do  not  object  to  its  taste — but  the  stuff 
itself.  It  has  destroyed  my  body,  and,  for  a  time, 
my  mind,  and  came  very  near  destroying  my 
soul.  No,  no  !  I  will  guard  against  this  medi- 
cine the  balance  of  the  days  that  I  am  permitted 
to  live ;  and  if  I  had  the  power,  would  destroy 
it  from  the  face  of  the  earth." 

"  But,  dear,  the  Doctor  says  you  cannot  get 
well  without  taking  a  little  occasionally." 

"  Then  let  me  die !  Die  a  sober  man,  and 
fulfill  the  pledge  that  I  made  at  the  moment  my 


'  Dear  "\Vife,  do  not  hand  it  to  me.     I  cannot  take  it. 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  277 

mother's  spirit  departed  from  this  earth.  No, 
mother,  this  pledge  I  will  not  break,  although  I 
have  broken  every  other  one  that  I  gave  you, 
and  every  one  that  I  gave  my  wife.  Not  another 
drop  of  this  essence  of  hell,  that  sends  every 
year  thousands  to  an  untimely  grave,  and  their 
souls  to  perdition,  shall,  with  my  knowledge, 
pollute  my  tongue  again." 

Mr.  Gurney  was  very  calm  and  self-possessed 
during  this  conversation,  and  although  his  voice 
was  very  weak,  yet  it  was  so  distinct  that  every 
word  could  be  easily  understood.  His  stern  re- 
fusal, and  determination  not  to  take  any  of  the 
medicine  brought  fresh  grief  to  the  almost 
heart-broken  wife.  She  wrung  her  hands  as  if 
in  despair,  and,,  in  a  flood  of  tears,  murmured, 
"  Oh,  God,  what  will  become  of  me  and  my 
children !" 

Annie  was  more  composed.  She  took  the 
little  ones,  set  them  by  the  side  of  their  father, 
and  said,  "  Arthur,  dear  brother,  these  are  your 
children.  You  love  them.  The  laws  of  God 
and  nature  demand  that  you  shall  protect  and 
provide  for  them,  and  teach  and  guide  them  to 
be  useful  members  of  society.  Will  you  be  deaf 
to  this  demand,  and  leave  them  unprotected  and 


278  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

without  a  guide?  And  will  you  leave  her 
(pointing  to  Adelia),  who  loves  you  with  all  the 
love  a  woman's  heart  is  capable  of — alone,  a 
widow ;  her  whom  you  promised  to  love,  com- 
fort, and  cherish  ?" 

She  paused,  as  if  waiting  to  see  what  effect 
her  words  had  produced. 

"  Have  I  ever  fulfilled  my  pledge,  and  done 
my  duty,  as  a  husband,  toward  her — one  of  the 
noblest  women  on  earth?  I  loved  her;  yes, 
loved  her  with  all  my  heart.  But  the  comfort  I 
brought  to  her  heart  was  trouble,  grief,  sorrow 
and  pain.  And  was  I  a  father  to  these  little 
ones  ?  Did  I  care  for  them  ?  And  am  I  capa- 
ble of  teaching  and  guiding  them,  when  I  myself 
am  incapable  of  self-government  ?" 

"  We  must  not  look  despairingly  back  on  the 
past,  but  look  hopefully  to  the  future.  You  a're 
in  the  prime  of  life.  And  a  man  of  your  educa- 
tion and  knowledge  can  soon  make  again  what 
you  have  lost.  Make  a  new  start,  commence  life 
anew,  and  with  such  a  partner  and  counsellor  as 
Adelia,  the  result  cannot  be  doubtful ;  success 
is  sure.  Come,  now,  dear,  take  the  medicine, 
and  don't  break  your  wife's  heart  by  your  re- 
fusal. The  Doctor  says  you  got  along  so  well, 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  279 

and  will  soon  be  all   right  again,  if  you   only 
follow  his  prescription." 

"  And  suffer  thousands  of  deaths  anew !  Oh, 
sister,  could  you  have  the  faintest  idea  of  the 
suffering  that  this  medicine  has  caused  me,  aside 
from  those  that  it  caused  my  mother,  my  wife, 
yourself  and  others,  you  would  not,  nay,  you 
could  not  insist  on  my  trying  its  virtues  any 
longer.  They  call  it  spirits,  and  I  believe  it  is 
the  right  name  for  it,  for,  to  judge  from  its  irre- 
sistible power,  I  do  believe  it  contains  the  spirits 
of  the  hellish  legion  below.  Oh,  how  I  have 
striven  and  struggled  to  keep  away  from  it, 
whenever  I  saw  the  painful  countenance  of  my 
mother,  when  with  pleading  look  and  plaintive 
voice,  she  bade  me  beware  of  it.  Often  I  sank 
on  my  knees  and  prayed  to  my  God  for  assist- 
ance— for  strength  to  overcome  this  terrible 
monster.  For  weeks  I  went  to  and  from  my 
office  by  a  circuitous  route,  to  avoid  coming  near 
those  recruiting  offices  of  the  devil,  saloons; 
and  when  at  last  I  thought  myself  strong  enough 
to  defy  the  monster,  and  ventured  to  get  near 
him,  I  was  drawn,  irresistibly,  into  his  jaws.  Oh, 
how  I  struggled !  Jesus  Christ,  in  the  garden 
of  Gethsemane,  when  the  bloody  sweat  was 


280  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

dripping  from  him,  could  not  have  suffered  more 
than  I  did.  He  could  not  have  prayed  more 
fervently  than  I  did,  to  have  the  bitter  cup  taken 
away,  but  without  avail.  No,  no,  no !  More 
such  suffering-  may  crush  me,  unprepared." 

"  You  will  live ;  and  surrounded  by  your  lov- 
ing wife  and  children,  who  will  pray  for  you,  and 
with  the  angels  and  the  spirit  of  your  mother  as 
a  guide,  there  will  be  no  danger  of  your  falling 
again." 

"  Dear  sister,  I  had  the  same  thoughts  four 
years  ago,  when  I  married  Adelia,  but  they  were 
illusive.  You  know  that  I  never  paid  any  atten- 
tion to  young  ladies,  until  I  made  the  acquaint- 
ance of  Adelia.  I  knew  that  if  God  would  not 
assist  me  in  overcoming  this  raving,  craving,  and 
unnatural  appetite,  that  I  would  become,  in  spite 
of  all  my  resistance,  a  drunkard,  and  I  resolved 
not  to  make  another  being  unhappy  by  a  union 
with  a  drunkard,  and  beget  children  who  in  after 
years  would  curse  the  memory  of  their  father. 
But  she,  the  pure,  the  beautiful,  loving  creature, 
changed  my  mind.  I  loved  her,  but  before  I  ex- 
tended more  than  the  ordinary  courtesies  to  her, 
I  considered  the  matter  thoroughly,  because  I 
did  not  wish  to  make  her  unhappy  for  my  sake. 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  281 

I  asked  myself  would  her  charms  have  the  power 
to  subdue  the  passion  for  strong  drink.  Yes  ; 
her  love  and  little  ones  will  not  let  me  act  the 
truant,  but  keep  me  mingling  with  them  at  the 
fireside.  The  loving  virgin  became  my  wife,  the 
little  ones  are  sitting  here  by  my  side.  Have 
her  charms,  her  unfaltering  love,  the  fruit  of 
our  marriage,  these  little  ones,  subdued  that  pas- 
sion ?  You  and  she  can  both  answer." 

A  short  pause  followed.  He  was  visibly  ex- 
hausted, and  both  women  begged  him  to  be 
quiet,  but  he  gathered  strength,  and  went  on — 

"  Dear  wife,  do  not  think  I  willfully  wronged 
you,  and  caused  you  grief,  pain,  and  sleepless 
nights.  Could  you  have  known  the  horrible  suf- 
fering I  underwent,  the  rivers  of  burning  lava  I 
waded,  the  fires  that  scorched  me,  and  the  hor- 
rors I  have  seen,  you  would  have  pitied  me,  and 
wished  me  dead  and  out  of  my  misery.  Thank 
God,  it  is  over." 

At  this  moment  the  servant  announced  Dr. 
Sanbourn  and  Mr.  Walker. 

"Shall  we  withdraw?"  asked  his  wife. 

"  For  a  few  moments  only." 

A  few  moments  later  the  gentlemen  were 
shown  in  and  the  ladies  withdrew. 

18 


282  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

The  morning  papers  announced  the  funeral 
of  Arthur  Gurney,  to  take  place  at  three  o'clock, 
p.  M.,  from  the  residence  of  Edward  Emmit. 
His  death  had  been  announced  previously,  and 
preparations  were  made  by  many  to  attend  it, 
for  Mr.  Gurney  was  very  widely  known,  had 
many  friends,  and  was  respected  by  all.  The 
members  of  the  bar,  at  a  meeting  called  for  that 
purpose,  resolved  to  attend  in  procession ;  and 
several  lodges  were  preparing  to  show  to  the 
deceased  brother  their  last  respects.  Men  were 
seen  everywhere  with  crape  around  the  arm,  and 
the  topic  of  conversation  was  the  death. 

"  He  was  such  a  noble  young  man,"  said  one. 
"And  he  was  acknowledged  one  of  the  best 
statesmen  and  one  of  the  best  judges  of  law  in 
the  State,"  said  another.  "He  was  one  of  the 
best  speakers  I  ever  heard,"  put  in  a  third. 
"  Never  was  a  more  liberal,  free-hearted  person," 
exclaimed  another.  "  Too  much  so  for  his  own 
good."  Such  expressions  and  many  more  of 
the  same  nature  were  heard  everywhere,  and 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  283 

although  the  October  sun  shone  hot,  and  the  at- 
mosphere was  sultry  and  oppressive,  yet  it  was 
thought  by  every  one  that  the  funeral  would  be 
well  attended,  and  one  of  the  largest  the  city 
ever  witnessed. 

Hundreds  who  could  not  attend  the  funeral 
repaired  to  the  house,  to  show  their  respect  and 
take  a  last  look  at  the  deceased. 

"Are  you  not  going  to  the  funeral,  Uncle 
Nick  ?"  asked  a  gentleman  of  the  proprietor  of 
the  Court  House  Saloon. 

"  Me  goin  to  de  funeral  mit  dese  vine  volks ! 
Not  much,  you  pet.  Dey  vould  not  go  to  Uncle 
Nick's  funeral.  Dey  vould  say,  '  Oh,  it's  only  a 
Dutchman.' " 

"But,  Uncle  Nick,  Mr.  Gurney  was  one  of 
your  best  customers,  and  you  got  a  great  deal 
of  money  out  of  him ;  you  should  show  some 
respect  to  the  remains  of  a  customer  and  friend." 

"  If  I  hat  no  bedder  customer  dan  dis  here 
Gurney  vas,  den  I  jhust  could  shut  up  de  sham- 
bang,  unt  go  mit  de  family  to  de  poor  house. 
Yes,  dese  here  fellers  would  be  berry  goot  cus- 
tomers, if  you  jhust  vould  give  it  to  dem.  Dey 
would  trink  all  der  brandy,  unt  der  whisky,  unt 
der  peer,  unt  treat  everypody,  unt  lay  around 


284  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

drunk  all  de  dime,  if  you  only  would  let  dem. 
Unt  der  bay,  where  would  dat  come  from  ?  You 
jhust  could  charge  it  to  der  Court  House." 

"You  surprise  me,  Uncle  Nick.  I  thought 
Mr.  Gurney  very  good  pay.  Does  he  owe  you 
very  much  ?" 

"I  don't  let  such  fellers  run  into  mein  debt, 
you  pet.  I  don't  vant  der  custom.  I  jhust  vant 
dem  to  stay  avay  from  mein  blace.  I  vant  to 
keep  a  decent  house,  unt  to  have  such  fellers 
coming  apout  gives  it  a  pad  name." 

"Well,  I  never  heard  but  that  Mr.  Gurney 
acted  the  gentleman  with  every  person  and 
everywhere,  and  I  don't  think  a  house  could  get 
a  bad  name  from  his  visits  ;  but  for  my  part,  I  do 
not  know  anything  about  it ;  I  only  speak  from 
hearsay.  I  hear  he  left  a  good  deal  of  his  money 
at  your  place,  both  at  the  card-table  and  at  the 
bar.  Everybody  says  he  was  very  liberal — too 
much  so  for  his  own  good." 

"  Yes,  dese  beeble  hear  a  goot  deal,  talk  a 
goot  deal,  unt  know  all  apout  de  oder  beebles 
pusiness.  Ven  a  feller  blays  a  game  of  billiards, 
jhust  for  de  fun,  den  dey  say  he  gambles ;  unt 
ven  he  looks  at  der  deck  of  carts  den  dey  say, 
'  Oh,  he  lost  lots  of  money,  unt  dey  cheated  unt 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  285 

swindled  him ;'  unt  if  he  goes  to  de  counter  unt 
trinks  a  pitters  or  a  glass  of  peer,  den  dey  say 
he  spends  all  der  money  in  de  saloon.  It's  dem 
demperance  doing  all  dis.  Der  always  finding 
someding  out,  unt  der  always  trying  to  preach 
an  honest  man  down.  Put  Uncle  Nick  don't 
care  a  straw  for  dem,  unt  let  dem  dalk." 

At  this  moment  the  sound  of  music  was  heard, 
and  the  gentleman  conversing  with  Uncle  Nick 
said,  "I  believe  the  procession  has  started. 
They  must  come  this  way ;  let's  go  outside  and 
see  them  pass.  I  expect  the  funeral  will  be  a 
very  imposing  one." 

Both  went  outside,  where  half  a  dozen  or 
more  were  already  assembled.  Among  them 
was  one  who  was  very  shabbily  dressed,  hair 
and  whiskers  unkempt  and  neglected,  and  his 
whole  appearance  giving  unmistakable  signs  of 
dissipation.  He  stood  aside  from  the  rest,  his 
eyes  cast  to  the  ground,  and  he  seemed  to  be 
lost  in  thought  and  meditation. 

The  sound  of  music  was  more  distinct,  and  in 
a  few  moments  more  the  advance  of  the  proces- 
sion rounded  the  corner  of  the  Court  Square. 
It  was  very  imposing  indeed.  Several  bands  of 
music,  the  members  of  the  bar,  the  different 


286  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

lodges  of  which  he  was  a  member,  and  the  nu- 
merous carriages  and  buggies,  showed  plainly 
how  well  the  deceased  was  respected. 

Not  a  word  was  spoken  by  the  little  group  that 
was  gathered  before  the  Court  House  Saloon, 
as  the  procession  passed  slowly  by.  But  an  ob- 
server would  have  noticed  that  the  individual 
described  was  deeply  agitated,  and  tears  were 
rolling  down  his  cheeks  as  he  cast  his  eyes  on 
the  hearse. 

At  last  one  of  the  company  broke  the  silence, 
and  said,  "  It  is  a  pity  that  such  a  noble  man, 
such  a  useful  member  of  society,  should  be  taken 
away  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  buried  in  an  un- 
timely grave." 

"  Dat's  de  vay  mit  de  Americans ;  ven  a  feller 
has  a  leetle  office,  unt  makes  dwo  or  dree 
speeches  dat  he  learns  in  der  pooks,  den  dey 
call  him  a  great  man.  Now  vat  has  he  ever 
done  to  make  such  to  do  ober  him  ?  He  has 
peen  in  der  legislature.  I  could  have  peen  dere 
too,  but  I  didn't  vant  de  office  as  a  gift.  Unt 
den  der  oder  dime  he  done  noding  put  drinking 
der  whisky,  ven  he  could  get  it.  Put  dat's  de 
vay.  Dey  makes  a  great  big  to  do  when  dey 
are  demperance,  unt  dey  makes  a  great  pig  to 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  287 

do  ven  dey  drinks  like  hogs.  If  he  is  such  a 
great  man,  why  didn't  dey  nominate  him  for  der 
Congress  ?  No,  dey  vant  sober  men  dere,  unt 
men  dat  knows  somedings,  like  Mr.  Perkins. 
Put  dat's  de  vay.  His  mother  vas  de  pig  dem- 
perance  voman ;  nopoty  should  trink  anyding 
else  put  de  lemonade  unt  der  soda  water,  unt 
she  died  mit  de  dyspepsia  unt  de  consumption. 
Unt  der  poy,  he  trinks  der  whisky  mit  de  pucket- 
full,  unt  he  dies  mit  der  snakes  in  der  poots,  unt 
den  dey  makes  de  pig  funeral,  unt  vants  every- 
poty  to  go  mit  it,  unt  den  dey  gives  de  preacher 
dwenty-five  dollars  to  pray  an  hour,  den  dey 
goes  mit  de  shoes  unt  poots  into  heaven.  Dat's 
de  vay  in  'Merica.  Ha,  ha,  ha  !" 

The  man  we  noticed  standing  alone  turned,  at 
these  words,  toward  the  speaker.  At  first  he 
was  ghastly  pale,  but  quickly  turned  to  crimson, 
and  when  the  speaker  ceased  he  stood  before 
him  with  flashing  eyes  and  clenched  fists,  and  in 
a  ringing  .voice  and  measured  words,  said- 

"And  you,  miserable,  contemptible,  de- 
bauched, depraved  and  debased  scoundrel; 
destitute  of  every  vestige  of  honor,  morality,  and 
virtue,  and  I  believe  even  destitute  of  a  soul  ; 
you  can  stand  here,  looking  on,  as  they  carry  by 


288  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

one  of  your  victims,  see  the  tears  of  the  woman 
whose  husband  you  murdered,  look  on  the  little 
ones  whose  father  you  killed,  whom  you  robbed 
of  everything  they  had,  and  use  such  language? 
Heap  lies,  slander,  slime  and  falsehood  upon  the 
memory  of  the  dead,  to  hide  your  own  crime, 
and  pollute  with  your  poisonous  breath,  and 
filthy  and  slimy  tongue,  the  name  of  that  noble 
woman  whose  name  is  too  sacred  to  be  spoken 
before  such  a  depraved  scoundrel  as  you  are. 
In  your  den  of  vice,  and  by  your  persuasion,  his 
lips  first  tasted  the  cursed  essence  of  hell.  In 
your  abode  of  thieves,  swindlers,  and  cut-throats, 
of  whom  you  are  the  leader,  he  was  robbed  out 
of  hundreds,  yes,  thousands  of  dollars.  And 
when  you  could  not  steal  from  nor  swindle  him 
any  longer,  you  threw  him  aside  like  useless 
rubbish,  and  looked  out  for  another  victim. 
Look  at  me,  scoundrel,  robber,  and  murderer ! 
You  know  me.  Look,  and  rejoice  at  your  hell- 
ish work.  I  was  one  of  the  boys  that  came  with 
him  the  evening  after  he  was  nominated  candi- 
date for  Prosecuting  Attorney,  into  this  devil's 
recruiting  office,  and  I,  like  him,  signed  my  death- 
warrant.  Like  him,  I  started  on  my  youthful 
voyage  full  of  hope,  full  of  promise,  and  full  of 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  289 

ambition.  Look  at  me  and  see  how  well  I  have 
succeeded,  with  your  assistance.  Oh,  is  there 
no  God?  or  is  He  asleep  !  Is  there  no  judgment 
in  heaven  nor  on  earth,  that  will  bring  this 
scoundrel  to  justice  !  Will  he  be  allowed  to  go 
on  with  his  hellish  work  of  murdering  and  rob- 
bing, and  making  widows  and  orphans,  from  day 
to  day,  and  from  year  to  year,  without  a  limit  ? 
Oh,  yes!  there  will  be;  he  will  yet  be  judged; 
if  by  no  other,  it  will  be  before  the  tribunal  of 
God  !"  and  raising  his  voice  to  a  still  higher  key, 
he  went  on — 

"  Oh,  if  I  had  the  power,  I  would  indict  you 
for  murder ;  for  with  the  most  satanic  delibera- 
tion you  have  killed  hundreds,  and  sent  them  to 
an  untimely  grave.  I  would  indict  you  for  ar- 
son ;  for  you  have  set  fire  to  hundreds  of  lives, 
and  have  burned  them  up,  body  and  soul.  I 
would  indict  you  for  robbery ;  for  you  have 
robbed  the  wives  and  children  of  their  protector 
and  supporter.  I  would  indict  you  for  grand 
larceny;  for  you  have  stolen  the  bread  and  but- 
ter from  the  needy ;  and  last,  I  would  indict  you 
for  high  treason ;  for  you  have  delivered  the 
great  fortress  of  American  liberty,  the  ballot- 
box,  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  trampled 


290  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

it  under  your  feet.  And  I  would  call  on  the 
spirits  of  the  departed,  and  of  the  widows  and 
orphans,  as  witnesses,  and  when  convicted,  would 
hang  you  higher  than  Raman's  gallows  !" 

He  turned  away,  and  as  he  walked  off,  he 
murmured,  "  Oh,  Arthur !  would  to  God  I  could 
sleep  beside  you  in  the  silent  tomb !" 

A  pause  ensued,  which  was  at  last  broken  by 
Uncle  Nick,  who  said,  "  Dat's  de  vay  mit  dese 
loafers.  Dey  never  have  anyting,  unt  dey  are 
too  lazy  to  vork;  den  dey  accuse  respectable 
beeble  of  stealing.  Ven  you  take  dem  up  for 
'sturbing  de  beace,  den  you  have  de  cost  to 
bay,  unt  ven  dey  puts  dem  in  jail  dat's  jhust  vat 
dem  fellers  vants,  to  get  fed  unt  clothed,  den 
you  have  to  bay  so  much  more  de  taxes.  In 
Germany  dey  vould  put  dem  fellers  in  der 
prison,  unt  make  dem  vork ;  but  here  dey  goes 
around  unt  insult  respectable  beeble.  Dat's  de 
vay  in  'Merica;  ha,  ha,  ha !"  and  he  went  in  the 
house. 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  291 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

Agreeably  to  a  call  by  Mr.  Walker,  chairman 
of  the  executive  committee  of  the  temperance 
society,  for  the  members  of  that  party  to  meet, 
at  eight  o'clock  this  evening,  at  his  office,  to 
transact  business  of  importance,  we  find,  at  the 
time  appointed,  a  half  dozen  of  the  most  earnest 
workers  in  the  temperance  cause  assembled  and 
ready  for  business.  A  friend  of  the  cause  had 
donated  a  fine  lot,  and  they  were  to  devise  plans 
by  which  to  raise  sufficient  funds  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  temperance  temple,  and  to  deliberate 
upon  some  other  important  matters  concerning 
the  temperance  cause.  It  was  an  arduous  and 
tedious  undertaking.  Plans  were  advised  and 
abandoned.  But  where  such  men  as  Mr. 
Walker,  Mr.  Rogers  and  the  others  have  agreed 
to  transact  business,  a  failure  is  not  likely  to  oc- 
cur. They  came  to  an  understanding  on  nearly 
all  the  most  important  points,  and  when  the 
clock  struck  ten  Mr.  Rogers  moved  to  adjourn 
to  meet  again,  which  was  agreed  to  by  all. 

"  This  was  a  very  hot  day,  for  October,  and 


292  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

the  atmosphere  is  still  very  oppressive,  and 
there  is  very  little  air,"  remarked  one,  after  the 
meeting  had  adjourned. 

"  I  never  suffered  more  with  my  rheumatism 
in  my  life  than  I  did  to-day,  marching  in  the  fu- 
neral procession  to  the  cemetery  and  back,  and 
I  never  knew  it  to  fail  but  we  have  storms  or 
heavy  winds  shortly  after,"  said  another. 

"  I  think  we  will  have  a  storm  to-night.  I  no- 
ticed this  evening  that  the  clouds  were  gather- 
ing in  the  west,"  said  Mr.  Rogers. 

"  Well,  a  good  shower  is  very  much  needed. 
It  would  cool  the  atmosphere ;  and  the  wheat 
sown  is  suffering  from  the  want  of  rain,"  said 
another  one.  "  Was  that  not  a  very  untimely 
death  ?"  he  added,  speaking  of  Mr.  Gurney. 

"  That  shows  what  whisky  will  do.  It  is  said 
he  died  with  delirium  tremens.  I  wonder  if  that 
is  so,"  remarked  Mr.  Rogers. 

Mr.  Walker,  who  was  busily  assorting  papers 
and  laying  them  away,  had  as  yet  taken  no  part 
in  the  conversation,  but  when  he  heard  Mr. 
Rogers'  last  remark,  he  turned  and  said,  "  I 
think  I  can  answer  your  question.  I  was  with 
the  deceased  two  days  before  he  died,  and  I 
never  heard  a  man  talk  with  better  sense  and  in 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  293 

a  more  cool  and  composed  manner  than  he  did. 
This  would  scarcely  have  been  the  case  if  he  had 
labored  under  the  effects  of  that  terrible 
disease." 

"  Mr.  Walker,  I  know  you  and  Mr.  Gurney 
were  personal  friends,  as  were  you  and  his 
mother,  who  appointed  you  administrator  of  her 
will.  There  are  many  stories  in  circulation 
as  to  his  death,  and  as  to  his  estate,  which  is  said 
to  be  so  heavily  mortgaged  that  it  will  scarcely 
leave  his  heirs  anything,  if  it  has  to  be  sold  un- 
der the  hammer.  There  is  perhaps  no  one  in 
the  city,  outside  of  the  family  and  relatives  of 
the  deceased,  better  acquainted  with  the  whole 
affair  than  you  are,  and  if  you  feel  at  liberty  to 
speak  in  this  matter,  I  ask  you  if  they  have 
any  foundation,"  said  Mr.  Rogers. 

"  If  it  was  not  so  late,"  said  Mr.  Walker,  as  he 
looked  at  the  clock,  the  hand  of  which  pointed 
to  half-past  ten,  "  I  would  tell  you  the  whole 
affair ;  but  I  think  we  had'  better  postpone  it 
until  some  other  time,  for  it  is  almost  eleven 
o'clock." 

"  Go  on,  go  on,  we  want  to  hear,  and  we  do 
not  know  when  we  shall  all  meet  again,"  was 
heard  from  all  sides. 


294  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

Mr.  Walker,  who  was  standing,  took  a  chair, 
arid  when  seated,  said:  "Ten  years  ago  Mr. 
Gurney  was  my  political  opponent  in  the  race 
for  Prosecuting  Attorney.  He  was  very  young, 
and  had  just  come  home  from  the  law  school, 
where  he  graduated  first  in  his  class.  His 
father,  a  very  ambitious  man,  proud  of  his  son's 
talent,  and  with  great  expectations  for  his  future, 
thought  this  a  fine  opportunity  for  success.  He 
spent  large  sums  to  get  him  nominated,  and  left 
no  stone  unturned  to  assure  success.  Saloons 
and  whisky,  as  they  are  in  every  campaign,  were 
the  mainsprings  to  be  relied  upon,  and  they 
were  set  in  full  working  order.  The  old  man, 
who  drank  his  glass  regularly  without  getting 
drunk,  had  no  fear  for  his  son ;  of  course,  he  was 
a  Gurney,  and  would  do  like  his  father.  Yet, 
had  the  father  commenced  drinking  under  the 
same  auspices,  perhaps  he  would  have  shared 
the  same  fate.  On  the  ticket  with  Mr.  Gurney, 
as  candidate  for  Sheriff,  was  one  Mike  O'Brien, 
a  notorious  prize-fighter,  who  was  afterwards 
killed  in  a  drunken  row,  and,  for  Treasurer,  the 
notorious  Henry  Welch,  who  turned  out  a  de- 
faulter in  the  sum  of  twenty  thousand  dollars, 
ran  off  into  Canada,  was  afterwards  captured, 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  295 

brought  back,  tried,  and  sentenced  to  serve  a 
term  in  the  penitentiary.  In  their  company  he 
learned  to  drink,  and  the  habit  soon  got  the 
mastery  of  him.  A  few  years  later  his  father 
was  thrown  from  his  buggy  by  a  runaway  horse, 
and  received  injuries  from  which  he  shortly 
afterwards  died,  leaving  a  will  dividing  his  pro- 
perty equally  between  his  two  children  and  his 
widow,  a  woman  in  feeble  health,  highly  edu- 
cated and  of  a  superior  mind.  She  was  very 
anxious  about  her  son  and  his  growing  passion 
for  strong  drink,  which  her  keen  eyes  soon  dis- 
covered, and  which  nearly  broke  her  heart. 

"  Meanwhile  Mr.  Gurney  was  elected  to  the 
State  Senate,  and  never  could  a  party  have 
elected  a  better  man.  He  was  a  fine  orator,  a 
good  judge  of  law,  clear-minded,  and  always 
found  on  the  side  where  he  could  do  the  most 
good,  and  would  often  fight  against  his  own 
party  when  he  thought  it  was  wrong.  About 
four  years  ago  he  was  married  to  a  Miss  Proc- 
tor, who  was  as  noble-hearted  as  she  was  pretty. 
The  fruit  of  this  marriage  was  two  children, 
boys,  both  living.  His  mother,  whose  disease 
had  turned  into  slow  consumption,  expired  at 
the  close  of  the  marriage  ceremony,  having  pre- 


296  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

viously  made  a  will,  in  which  she  appointed  me 
administrator.  With  a  clear  mind,  as  if  she  had  a 
knowledge  of  what  was  to  come,  she  prepared 
for  the  emergency.  The  will  read  that  the  in- 
terest of  her  money  and  the  income  of  her  real 
estate  should  be  divided  annually  by  her  two 
children  ;  and  should  Arthur  die  without  leaving 
any  heirs,  then  her  daughter,  or  her  heirs  if  she 
should  be  dead,  should  inherit  the  whole.  But 
should  he  marry  and  have  heirs,  then  the  inter- 
est of  the  whole  should  be  set  apart  for  their 
education,  and  if  necessary  for  their  maintenance. 
But  should  he  die  and  leave  them  destitute  of 
the  necessities  and  comforts  of  life,  then  the  ad- 
ministrator should  have  the  power  to  act  as  he 
thought  best  under  the  circumstances. 

"  At  the  moderate  valuation  of  real  estate  and 
money  at  interest,  it  will  amount  to  about  twenty 
thousand  dollars — in  itself  enough  to  keep  the 
widow  and  her  children  comfortable.  He  sent 
for  me,  as  I  told  you,  a  few  days  before  he  died. 
'  Mr.  Walker/  he  said,  after  I  seated  myself  by 
the  side  of  his  bed,  '  I  sent  for  you  confidentially, 
for  you  always  have  been  a  true  friend  to  me. 
I  soon  shall  leave  this  world,  and  would  leave 
my  poor  wife  and  children  to  the  charity  of  the 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  297 

public,  had  not  the  foresight  of  my  mother  pro- 
vided for  them.  My  affairs  are  in  a  terrible  con- 
dition. The  money  my  father  left  me  is  all 
squandered.  I  hold  notes  to  the  amount  of  five 
or  six  thousand  dollars,  which  I  will  hand  to  you 
for  collection,  but  I  do  not  think  you  will  make 
much  out  of  them.  And  my  real  estate  is  mort- 
gaged. I  wish  you  would  save  it,  if  it  is  in  your 
power,  or  if  you  see  fit  to  do  so.'  " 

"  I  promised  him  I  would  do  all  in  my  power 
for  him  and  his  family's  good,  and  hoped  that  he 
would  soon  be  able  to  co-operate  with  me." 

" '  I  knew  you  would,'  he  smilingly  said,  '  and 
I  can  now  rest  satisfied.'  " 

"  I  shall  pay  off  the  mortgage  at  once,  and 
make  an  effort  to  collect  the  amount  represented 
by  the  notes.  And  now  you  have  the  whole 
history." 

"  You  forgot  to  tell  us  the  nature  of  his  dis- 
ease," remarked  Mr.  Rogers. 

"There  were  two  causes  for  his  untimely 
death.  The  disappointment  of  his  defeat  at  the 
Congressional  Convention,  and  the  excessive 
use  of  whisky  to  drown  the  memory  of  it  and 
heal  the  bleeding  wound." 

"I  cannot  understand,  to  this  day,"  interrupted 

19 


298  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

one,  "  how  it  came  that  he  was  so  badly  defeated 
and  this,  too,  by  a  man  scarcely  known  outside 
of  his  county." 

"  This  is  very  easily  explained,"  Mr.  Walker 
said.  "You  see,  he  and  his  friends  were  so 
sure  of  success  that  they  disregarded  all  vigi- 
lance and  precaution,  and  not  one-half  of  the 
delegates  appointed  attended  the  Convention,  as 
it  was  considered  a  settled  fact  that  Mr.  Gurney 
would  be  the  nominee.  This  was  taken  advan- 
tage of  by  the  friends  of  the  opponent  and  his 
hirelings,  who  got  in  their  men  all  well  organ- 
ized and  well  paid  as  substitutes,  and  so  achieved 
an  easy  victory." 

"Is  Mr.  Perkins  qualified  for  the  position?" 
asked  Mr.  Rogers. 

"  In  comparison  with  Mr.  Gurney,  it  would  be 
as  a  star  of  the  first  magnitude  to  that  of  insig- 
nificance ;  and  Mr.  Perkins  never  would  have 
had  M.  C.  attached  to  his  name,  if  it  had  not 
been  for  the  money  of  his  wife." 

"  How  so  ?"  asked  several,  at  once. 

"  You  see,  the  gentleman  had  the  good  luck 
to  marry  a  spinster,  who  made  up  in  dollars  what 
she  lacked  in  beauty,  for  she  could  call  five  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  her  own.  This  woman,  I 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  299 

am  told,  boasted  that  if  money  could  procure  for 
her  husband  a  seat  in  Congress,  he  should 
have  one,  and  the  result  of  the  election  has 
shown  that  she  fully  succeeded.  I  have  it  from 
trustworthy  authority  that  she  did  not  spend  less 
than  fifty  thousand  dollars  to  accomplish  her  ob- 
ject." 

"  How  did  she  spend  it,  and  who  got  it  all  ?" 
w'as  asked  by  several. 

"  Not  the  widows  and  orphans,  nor  the  needy 
of  any  description,  you  may  rest  assured.  But 
it  was  spent  for  whisky,  and  was  passed  into  the 
hands  of  saloon  keepers.  One  man  alone,  here 
in  this  city,  received  ten  thousand  dollars ;  fiive 
thousand  to  secure  the  nomination,  and  five  thou- 
sand after  he  was  elected.  The  scoundrel  never 
did  a  day's  work  in  his  life,  since  I  knew  him ; 
controls  every  election,  and  owns,  on  Court 
street,  one  of  the  finest  marble  blocks  there  is 
in  the  city — it  is  said  to  have  cost  over  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  thousand  dollars ;  and  in  it  he  car- 
ries on  his  saloon,  and  it  is  said  in  it  are  the  most 
extensive  gambling  dens  there  are  in  the  United 
States.  He  is  a  Dutchman,  and  his  name,  I 
think,  is  Nick  Putzel,  but  he  is  known  every- 
where as  Uncle  Nick." 


300  NICK    PUTZEL  ;    OR 

"  Many  young1  men  have  been  led  to  ruin  and 
destruction  in  his  headquarters  of  thieves  and 
swindlers.  Among  them  Arthur  Gurney. 
They  elected  him  Prosecuting  Attorney  because 
he  had  plenty  of  money ;  and  they  were  his  pre- 
tended friends  as  long  as  it  lasted ;  but  as  soon 
as  a  better  opportunity  offered  they  sacrificed 
him,  threw  him  aside  like  useless  rubbish,  and 
grabbed  for  the  golden  egg." 

"  The  winding  up  of  the  whole  matter  is, 
through  whisky  he  made  his  success,  and  through 
whisky  he  met  an  untimely  end.  I  shall  never 
forget  the  words  he  said  to  me  before  I  parted 
with  him  forever :  '  My  life  was  a  failure,  and  all 
because  I  started  on  the  wrong  road  to  success. 
But  I  blame  no  one  but  myself.  I  part  from 
this  world  with  malice  toward  none ;  but  this  I 
will  say:  may  the  tongue  forsake  its  function,  of 
the  one  who  will  try  to  persuade  my  children  to 
use  strong  drink,  and  may  the  arm  be  paralyzed, 
and  the  hand  withered,  of  the  person  who  shall 
attempt  to  hand  to  my  children  the  cup  that  con- 
tains the  soul  and  body  destroying  poison  called 
whisky!'" 

"  How  time  passes ;  nearly  twelve  o'clock. 
But  hark,  isn't  that  thunder  ?" 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  301 

"  I  noticed  several  keen  flashes  of  lightning, 
and  I  would  not  be  surprised  if  we  have  a 
shower,"  remarked  Mr.  Rogers.  "  It  seems  as 
if  I  hear  an  awful  roaring.  There  must  be 
heavy  wind  with  it." 

One  of  the  gentlemen,  who  had  looked  out  of 
the  window,  withdrew  his  head,  and  said,  "  Gen- 
tlemen, shut  the  windows,  quickly,  we  have  a 
tornado." 

It  took  not  a  moment  to  do  this,  but  it  was 
scarcely  accomplished  when  the  storm  in  all  its 
fury  burst  upon  them.  It  seemed  as  if  the  ele- 
ments had  combined  for  the  destruction  of  the 
city.  The  lightning  was  a  continual  sheet  of 
flame,  and  the  crash  and  roaring  of  the  thunder, 
combined  with  the  howling  of  the  wind,  was  ter- 
rific and  horrible  to  behold.  It  only  lasted  for 
a  few  minutes,  but  as  it  abated  the  fire  bells  were 
heard  ringing,  and  the  engines  were  heard  has- 
tily making  their  way  through  the  obstructed 
streets.  The  cry  of  "  fire "  was  heard  every- 
where, and  soon  the  flames  were  seen  soaring 
high  in  the  air.  It  was  apparently  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  Court  House.  The  whole  city 
seemed  to  be  alive  after  the  storm  ceased ;  every 
one  anxious  to  see  if  his  neighbor's  house  was 


302  NICK  PUTZEL;  OR 

standing,  for  all  expected  to  see  the  city  in  ruins, 
but  to  the  great  surprise  of  all,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  blown-off  roofs  and  unsecured  out-build- 
ings, sign  posts  and  awnings,  uprooting  of  hun- 
dreds of  shade  trees,  and  the  great  fire,  caused 
by  a  stroke  of  lightning,  that  consumed  the  fine 
marble  block  on  Court  street,  no  other  damage 
was  done.  But  the  fright  had  driven  away  the 
slumber,  and  most  of  the  people  were  out  on 
the  street,  and  a  good  many  went  to  the  scene 
of  the  fire,  where  it  was  reported  many  lives 
were  lost. 

Early  in  the  morning  men  were  set  to  work 
to  clear  the  streets  of  obstruction,  and  the  pa- 
pers had  the  following  in  regard  to  the  storm : 

"About  twelve  o'clock  last  night  the  most 
terrific  tornado  ever  witnessed  by  the  oldest  of 
our  inhabitants  struck  our  city.  Houses  were 
unroofed,  unsecured  buildings,  sign  boards  and 
awnings  destroyed,  and  hundreds  of  shade  trees 
uprooted.  The  lightning  struck  the  fine  marble 
block  on  Court  street,  owned  by  Nicholas  Put- 
zel,  in  the  corner  of  which  was  kept  the  well- 
known  Court  House  Saloon  and  restaurant,  by 
the  owner  himself,  who,  it  is  said,  with  a  good 
many  others,  perished  in  the  flames." 


"A  charred  form  would  be  brought  forth. 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  305 

Hundreds  of  idle  spectators  were  standing 
around  the  ruins  of  the  fire,  watching  the  work- 
men taking  away  the  debris,  in  search  of  the 
dead  bodies.  Every  once  in  a  while  a  charred 
form  would  be  brought  forth  and  laid  aside  in  a 
place  fixed  purposely  for  inspection  and  recog- 
nition. The  workmen  had  just  deposited  one 
when  a  bystander  remarked,  "That's  him.  I 
would  know  him  out  of  a  thousand,  by  his  pecu- 
liar shape." 

A  shabbily  dressed  individual  pushed  himself 
through  the  throng,  and  looking  at  the  charred 
corpse  for  a  few  moments,  turned  away,  saying — 

"  The  mills  of  God  grind  slow  but  sure ! 
Arthur  Gurney,  thou  art  revenged !" 


306  NICK   PUTZEL  ;    OR 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

It  was  a  very  pleasant  afternoon  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  month  of  May.  The  atmosphere  was 
pure  and  refreshing,  the  trees  in  full  foliage, 
flowers  in  full  bloom,  and  the  earth  clothed  in 
green.  Nature  had  thrown  aside  its  winter  gar- 
ments, and  appeared  in  full  spring  attire.  A 
fragrant  zephyr  acted  like  a  stimulant  to  every 
living  creature,  as  all  seemed  to  enjoy  and  par- 
take of  God's  handiwork. 

Nor  were  the  dead  forgotten.  The  cemetery 
was  alive  with  people,  and  the  flowers,  strewn  on 
graves  and  beautifully  arranged  on  monuments, 
testified  that  the  loved  ones  departed  were  held 
in  sacred  memory  by  the  loved  ones  living. 

Among  the  many  vehicles  with  their  precious 
cargoes  of  human  beings  and  flowers,  that  drove 
into  the  resting  place  of  the  dead,  was  a  large 
family  carriage  drawn  by  a  fine  span  of  greys. 
It  moved  slowly  toward  the  centre,  but  before 
getting  there  it  turned  to  the  right,  went  on  a 
few  hundred  yards,  and  stopped  in  the  shade  of 
a  large  weeping  willow.  The  occupants,  a  gen- 


ARTHUR  GURNEY'S  RUIN.  307 

tleman  and  two  ladies,  a  boy  about  thirteen 
years  of  age,  and  two  smaller  ones,  the  older  of 
them  between  three  and  four,  and  the  youngest 
two  years  old,  alighted. 

All,  in  mourning,  and  carrying  in  their  hands 
their  tokens  of  love  for  some  dear  departed, 
made  their  way  to  an  enclosure  surrounded  by 
an  iron  fence,  about  twenty  yards  distant  to  the 
left.  The  gentleman  opened  a  gate  and  all  en- 
tered. Side  by  side  were  three  graves,  each 
with  a  small  headstone,  while  in  the  centre  was 
a  large,  plain  monument.  With  the  exception 
of  the  little  ones  not  a  word  was  spoken.  All 
were  silently  engaged  in  arranging  flowers,  bou- 
quets, and  wreaths ;  but  when  the  younger  of 
the  ladies  had  circled  the  headstone  of  the  grave 
to  the  left  with  her  last  wreath,  she  sank  on  her 
knees,  folded  her  hands,  cast  her  eyes  toward 
heaven,  and  apparently  offered  a  silent  prayer. 
She  was  in  this  attitude  for  some  time,  seem- 
ingly unconscious  of  everything  around  her, 
when  the  other  lady  stepped  up  to  her,  placed 
her  hand  upon  her  arm,  and  in- a  low  tone  said, 
"Sister." 

She  arose  as  if  from  a  dream.  All  went  back 
to  the  carriage,  and  after  being  seated,  drove  off. 


308  NICK   PUTZEL. 

Quite  a  little  crowd  had  gathered  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  scene  described,  no  doubt  at- 
tracted by  the  matchless  beauty  of  the  younger 
lady,  and  scarcely  was  the  carriage  set  in  motion 
when  a  dozen  or  more  voices  were  heard  saying, 
"Who  are  they?  Who  is  she?"  etc.,  to  which 
a  gentleman,  after  silence  was  restored,  replied — 

"  The  gentleman,  elder  lady,  and  largest  boy, 
are  Mr.  Emmit,  wife,  and  son.  The  younger 
lady  and  little  children  are  the  widow  and  child- 
ren of  the  late  lamented  Arthur  Gurney." 

"Well,  if  she  is  as  good  as  she  is  beautiful, 
then  she  is  an  angel  indeed,"  remarked  a  by- 
stander. 

"That  beautiful  form  conceals  no  deceit.  In 
it  lodges  a  soul  equally  as  noble  and  beautiful. 
And  if  God  has  created  angels  with  flesh  and 
blood,  then  Adelia  Gurney  is  one  indeed." 


THE   END. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


!Orr>< 


•'•'-.  ; 


MAY  1  5  1996 

- «- i. 1  v  t ID 

4WKAPR17 


2001 


Form  L9-100m-9,'52(A3105)444 


2197    Nick  Putzel 


PS 

2197 

K8ln 


